Frankie Master - “Spinning Jenny”

Photo by Msav Photo

By now, it’s likely become pretty clear that we are Frankie Master fans, as we’ve featured a handful of singles from the Chicago-based singer-songwriter, including “Sakura” and “Pathos.” Both of these tracks are included on her new record, Aseasonal Sadness, which is now available everywhere. But we weren’t about to let Frankie release an album without squeezing in one more song review– this time, it’s the delightfully stripped-back and cinematic “Spinning Jenny.”

As soon as the song begins, it becomes immediately clear that it’s much more sparse than her previous offerings. The guitar is all nice and vibey, with what appears to be a good dose of reverb and tremolo, perfectly setting the stage for her vocal to enter. And when it does, it is completely worth the price of admission. Over the past year, we’ve grown very fond of these more raw arrangements, where vocals have nowhere to hide behind production tricks, and Frankie’s voice has always been very pure, allowing an extremely intimate experience for all who hear.

On the refrain, our ears are met by the sound of a synth that gently pads the composition, providing width as a means to elevate the track in order to meet the power that Frankie adds to her vocal performance. The crescendo here is comprised of pure emotion and it is definitely something that everyone should get into their ears. The entire song is made up of a series of these peaks and valleys, providing a great deal of dynamic fluctuation, without the need for percussion. Instead, “Spinning Jenny” utilizes a wonderful string arrangement to move the track forward.

It’s quite an emotional four minutes and fifteen seconds and while we encourage you to press play on “Spinning Jenny,” we also hope that you will find your way to hearing the record in its entirety.

-TM