England’s Fascinating Creatures was my pick for best family CD of 2006 (and came in fourth in that year's Fids & Kamily Awards). That first record was made as a fundraiser for Frances's son’s preschool and recorded in a home studio; Family Tree, while a bit fancier in production, retains the immediacy and intimacy that made Fascinating Creatures so appealing and unique. The music is probably best described as indie folk, with the focus on Frances’s gentle, playful, and expressive voice. It occasionally rocks a bit more (“I Scream, You Scream” and “Free to Be Me”), but even then, it’s all about the song. The lyrics somehow strike a remarkable balance between simplicity and sophistication, hitting topics and phrasings that are appealing to kids and parents alike.
- Bill Childs, Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child and various publications
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