Amidst peeling birch, sundried and fragrant husks, a flooded riverbed, and a solemn, wet, echoing cave, Hannah Frances returns with a dense and daring album, ‘Keeper of the Shepherd.’ This album is a rebirth in every sense of the word, showcasing Frances’ virtuosic songwriting, arrangement, and musicality, while displaying a deep and churning emotional vulnerability.
A classically trained vocalist and self-taught guitarist with virtuosic dynamism, there is no singular way Hannah grips us with her complex guitar work and storytelling. Through profoundly cutting lyricism, masterful fingerpicked polyrhythms, and a colossal voice, Frances’ unorthodox sound melds avant-folk, progressive rock, and jazz. NPR's Ann Powers calls Frances “a stunning vocalist and songwriter,” and she was awarded Pitchfork's Best New Music for the triumphant ‘Keeper of the Shepherd,’ as well as nods for Best Albums of 2024 from Pitchfork, Paste Magazine, and Bandcamp, and a full feature in the Chicago Tribune.
