Neal Francis
Return To Zero
ATO Records [2025]
“Neal Francis’s third LP further refines his funky electro-soul sound.”
Album Overview: Neal Francis dropped his impressive debut album Changes in 2019 on the Colemine Records sub-label Karma Chief, and he’s certainly kept himself busy since then. Jumping to ATO Records for his second album (2021’s In Plain Sight), he’s also embarked on several tours, released a handful of EPs, and also put out a well-received live album (2023’s Francis Comes Alive). Now he’s back with Return to Zero, an album that (as the name implies) doesn’t stray too far from his established sound but keeps things fresh by bringing in more of his musical influences along with some well-chosen collaborations.
Musical Style: New Orleans-style funk is one of the main touchstones of Francis’s sound, but his music runs the gamut from R&B and soul to rock and boogie. All of these ingredients get cooked down into a musical gumbo that perfectly fits Francis’s smooth baritone and gives him a solid foundation from which to show off his keyboard playing
Evolution of Sound: The overall sound of Return to Zero is pretty similar to Francis’s other albums, but there are some subtle updates that keep it from being a simple retread. Where In Plain Sight emphasized the rock and pop aspects of his sound, Return to Zero swings the pendulum to the other end of the spectrum, highlighting the the funk and soul elements. That shift is felt in the production style too, which is cleaner in a way that fits the groove-heavy songs without making them feel overly slick. There’s a stronger emphasis on synths and electric keys, and other touches (like the string arrangements on “Don’t Wait”) give the album a distinctly mid-to-late 70s vibe. Another welcome addition is backing vocals from disco-delic pop trio Say She She on several tracks, which nicely complement Francis’s singing.
Artists with Similar Fire: While you can still hear echoes of southern-fried songwriters like Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, and Leon Russel in the musical DNA of Return to Zero, the influence of late 70s funk, boogie, and disco is even more apparent. The grooves call to mind classic acts like Heatwave, Earth, Wind & Fire, and late-period Steely Dan, along with modern artists like Durand Jones & The Indications and Orgone (spearheaded by Francis’s co-producer Sergio Rios).
Pivotal Tracks: The first three tracks all feature Say She She and start the album strong, especially the opening track (“Need You Again”) and “Broken Glass.” The album takes a slight detour back to the more piano-pop/rock sound of the previous album with “What’s Left Of Me” and “150 More Times,” both of which offer a nice change of pace while also providing a reminder of Francis’s range. “Dirty Little Secret” (featuring Carlile on backing vocals) slows down the pace with a more laid-back, synth-heavy arrangement, while “Already Gone” and “Can’t Get Enough” bring back the funk as the album draws to a close.
Lyrical Strength: Many of Return to Zero’s lyrics focus on relationships, whether it’s the regrets, the wisdom gleaned, or the difficulties of maintaining a connection to someone while living life on the road. Many of these lyrics work on multiple levels, though, and can just as easily be interpreted as moving on from past mistakes toward a more authentic version of yourself.
Final Groove: By digging into unexplored corners of Neal Francis’s musical vocabulary, Return to Zero reinforces his talent while also building on his strengths in new ways. It’s just as strong as his previous work, but manages to avoid feeling like more of the same (while also feeling reassuringly familiar). The best artists stay true to themselves while also leaving space to change and grow, and Return to Zero shows that Neal Francis is doing just that.
NEAL FRANCIS REVIEW HISTORY
Sentimental Garbage (EP) (2022) / In Plain Sight (2021)
NEAL FRANCIS LINKS
Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | ATO Records
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