Album Review: Manny & Frank - Smile More

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It’s difficult to know where to begin when describing the debut LP from duo Manny & Frank. Difficult because there aren’t really any labels that can accurately describe it – or even categorise it. Bafflingly, it’s an album that not only defies categorisation – it settles into a limbo in-between worlds.

There are certainly positives here: the pair’s vocals are smooth, with both being engaging vocalists whose lyrics and meanings are relatable and thought-provoking. They discuss struggles with mental health and the pressure of society to be constantly ‘well’. Tracks like ‘Saitama!’ and ‘Cranes!’ grapple with such ideas, and it’s easy to relate to being overwhelmed in such a manner. Much of the album does carry a more positive vibe with it: you can imagine songs like ‘419!’, ‘Sick2Death!’ and ‘Dust!’ soundtracking a northern remake of Do The Right Thing. ‘Skin!’ in particular carries this idea, as it grapples with black identity in the face of an overwhelmingly white society, and the inherent struggles that come with it.

It’s all the more odd, then, that Smile More walks the line between provocative and confusing. That’s something that can be put down to a variety of factors, the biggest of which is the fact that just about all the tracks are far too short. The album as a whole is only 25 minutes long, with most tracks coming in under the two-minute mark – in and of itself this isn’t a problem at all, but the rhythm and tempo of each song doesn’t settle into an easy listen. As soon as you get into most of the tracks, they’re over – and suddenly. Many just finish mid-beat, and the next song begins immediately before you’ve had a second to digest what you’ve just heard. In one way, it‘s grating but it does add to an overall tension to the project. The stop/start synths of ‘Straight-Face!’ makes the track almost uncomfortable to listen to, despite the smoothness of the vocals that go with it.

As a whole piece, Smile More is a very confusing album to listen to. The undeniable talent is deliberately restricted by some odd decisions, adding to an overall unsettling aesthetic that may put off some listeners - but is an interesting ride nonetheless.

Words: Matt Taylor