Francis Lung Miracle

Manchester based singer-songwriter Francis Lung releases his second album Miracle on 18 June through Memphis Industries. Recorded at the idyllic Giant Wafer studios in rural Wales in early 2020, and finished from his home studio, Miracle represents a period of introspection for Francis. Reflecting on struggles with mental health, substance (ab)use, and relationships, the record finds him facing his demons head-on, a cathartic process which largely contributed to his decision to give up alcohol. Despite its serious subject matter, Miracle is far from austere in sound, marrying the cinematic, dreamlike quality of Francis's earlier music, both solo and as a member of Wu Lyf, with the pared-back charm of great singer-songwriters like Judee Sill, Jeff Tweedy and Elliott Smith (of whom Francis is a noted fan; he co-organised an Elliot Smith online tribute concert in June 2020, a fundraiser for LGBTQ+ charities which featured Smith covers by Marika Hackman, Blaenavon, Marissa Nadler and others). A series of musical interludes act as emotional, or aesthetic bridges between songs, suspending the listener in Francis's universe for the album's duration. Inspired by the Hauntology movement, these interludes are wistful and evocative, almost eerie, complementing the reflective tone of the record.Miracle was produced by Francis in collaboration with Brendan Williams (Dutch Uncles, Matthew Halsall, Kiran Leonard) and Robin Koob (who co-arranged and performed strings), and the opportunity to take creative control was one he relished. "I'm quite bad at delegating" he admits, noting that he played every instrument except strings on Miracle. The result is a cohesive, deeply personal record, which is as vital as it is vulnerable. "I don't want to be defined by my anxiety, my depression or any history of substance abuse," Francis says, "but I do want to reach out to other people who have had similar experiences, especially if it's in a way that helps them feel a little better. To me, this music is celebrating healing a...