"Swimmingly" by Marie Frank

a Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

Firstly, I must admit that this CD doesn't really fit the requirements for review on this site. The reason being that the artist, Marie Frank, did not write these songs. These songs were written by a man named Niell C. Furio. However… Frank has two other CDs full of original music, this just happens to be a different project. Also I have a special place in my heart for her. I first discovered her music on a trip to my favorite city in the world (so far), Copenhagen, Denmark. I picked up her CD (Ancient Pleasures) on a whim and I loved it. Every time I hear her sweet voice I am taken back to Copenhagen and it's lovely. Plus it's my website so I can change the rules willy-nilly if I like ;) so far the rules sill apply to everyone else. This is an exception.

That being said, this EP starts out a little odd, in that we hear the voice of Furio whispering, "It's not so much the skinny, as the dipping…." OK, that's probably true! But the next track gets right into the old Marie Frank that I know and love.

"Drowningly" is a gorgeous techno-ish song that actually does make you feel like you're in water. It's got a beautiful melody that uses minor chords giving the listener a bit of an uneasy feeling as well as calm…which I am told drowning is very much like anyway.

"Scrabble-Ina" is a cute pop song that Furio talks about on Frank's website. He said he was inspired by playing a game of Scrabble with a partner and she spelled "leave" when she could have easily spelled something else (love?) and how telling that was.

The rest of the songs are equally as charming. Frank's voice is sweet and innocent while still being sexy. It helps that she is physically the cutest thing since puppies and kitties (she looks a little like Meg Ryan).

Why is it always the EPs that are so good I want them to go on forever?

Posted on September 8, 2003