Five songs in length, the EP from the Luxembourg duo plucks at all of your personal insecurities and presents them back in authentic and vulnerable style.
The EP mixes grunge rock and DIY indie. Made up of drums, moody guitar hooks and Jana Bahrich’s vocals, Francis of Delirium could just as easily be compared to contemporaries such as Snail Mail and Soccer Mommy or to bands of the 90s pacific northwest. Especially, with their raw and minimalistic instrumentation and lyrics that sound like they could be ripped straight from a teenage diary.
Opener ‘Broken’ starts with a slow grungy vibe, with Bahrich unnervingly repeating: ‘And we’ve all stayed the same because we’re broken / And there’s no way to change if you’re hoping,’ over plucky guitar riffs. ‘Ashamed’ nicely picks up the pace. With fuzzy guitar riffs, the track gives a voice to the ever-present fear of needing to be constantly productive and constantly second guessing yourself: ‘I still stopped short of what I wanted and that’s sad and I’m so ashamed of it.’
Francis of Delirium are a somewhat unique duo. Consisting of 18-year-old Bahrich and Chris Hewett who is 30 years older. The unusual make-up of the band allows the pair to authentically mix two different generations of music, giving the band a unique edge in their music. This is obvious on standout track ‘Karen’ with influences of 90s garage rock, befitting of your typical American high school scene, Bahrich sings: ‘She wants you to suburban / Raise five kids and stop pursuing everything.’ Ending in a disdainful voice repeating: ‘Did you really think you could do that / You can’t do this’ over reverb as the track fades out.
Lyrically, the song is a rebellion against giving up on dreams and telling you to ignore the condescending Karen – who could be either the voice inside your head or the people around you – and follow your dreams. Coincidentally (or not) the song shares a name with the viral meme, a clapback to a certain kind of irritating and entitled person. Closing on ‘Quit Fucking Around’ All Change ends on a high, with an adrenaline filled chorus, one where it’s easy to imagine yourself jumping around to at a live show.
Francis of Delirium’s heartfelt lyrics make the band a relatable listen, giving a voice to insecurities while at the same time somehow making you feel hopeful, like anything could happen in your future. Steering competently away from ever feeling ‘too heavy’, this freedom is what gives All Change its lovely charm.
Haiku Review:
Bahrich and Hewett,
Tell Karen to chill a bit,
And go with the flow,
Listen to Francis of Delirium on Spotify and Bandcamp. Grab a copy of Volume 9 featuring girl in red, Dream Wife, Arlo Parks, Sorry and more HERE.
