Luke Francis - “In the Flood”

Seattle-based singer-songwriter Luke Francis returns to us with the magnificently folksy sounds of “In the Flood,” a track from his new album, Saguaro.

The warm sound of an acoustic guitar gets this one started, strummed to perfection as the ethereal notes from what appears to be a pedal steel churn throughout the soundscape. And because “In the Flood” was primarily recorded live in the studio, it possesses a remarkable level of palpable authenticity that we truly cannot get enough of.

Listeners do not have to wait long before the arrival of Francis’ vocal, which is just as honest and rich as the rest of the production. His lyrics were inspired by the California floods back in 2022, while visiting home and “feeling like everything was underwater.” But there is something much deeper occurring here, and it is easy to compare the motif to being completely flooded by emotion, addiction, or even by a profound emptiness.

The sparseness of the arrangement is countered by heavenly layers of strings, provided by Abby Gundersen (Phoebe Bridgers, Noah Gundersen). These glorious sounds pour across the sonic landscape like a mellifluous tide washing against the surface of the track. “In the Flood” is just as melancholic as it is introspective, which effectively nails our folksy niche to the ground.

If you are looking for an intimate number in which to completely lose yourself, you cannot go wrong by pressing play on “In the Flood.” And if you like what you hear, we recommend hitting the rest of the record, now available everywhere:

Connect with Luke Francis: Instagram | Spotify | Facebook | Soundcloud

-HD