‘Petits Fours’, is the debut album from Grand Duchy, aka Violet Clark and Black Francis. Featuring 9 tracks, the album is the joint venture between (husband and wife) Clark and Francis, and contains driving bass lines, a healthy dose of synths and some excellent vocals from Clark, alongside Francis’ trademark guitar squalls. The Grand Duchy US tour kicks off tomorrow in Washington DC and Black Francis is also playing a handful of solo shows, treating audiences to material from his entire career…

GRAND DUCHY/BLACK FRANCIS DATES:

JULY:

16 Washington, DC, Black Cat
17 Hoboken, NJ, Maxwells
18 Coney Island, New York, NY, Siren Festival
19 Cambridge, MA, Middle East
20 Wellfleet, MA , Beachcomber
23 Cleveland, OH, Grog Shop (Black Francis show)
24 Chicago, IL, Subterranean
25 Chicago, IL, Wicker Park Festival
29 Denver, CO, Walnut Room (Black Francis show)

AUGUST:

2 Seattle, WA, Triple Door (Black Francis show)
4 Portland, OR, Aladdin Theatre (Black Francis show)

Photo: Annabelle Phillips

Petits Fours
OUT NOW on Cooking Vinyl

Grand Duchy edits MagnetMagazine.com:

Watch the exclusive video ‘Luxembourg Special Time’ directed by Grand Duchy at Pitchfork TV

“A cross between Pixies stomp, Breeders pop and electronica soundscaping, “Petits Fours” is a sonic mosaic.” Metromix

“You’re in for a right royal treat” BBC Music

“…slipping reassuringly into his Black Francis scream at points, and bashing out dirty buzzsaw guitar riffs with alacrity on tracks such as “Lovesick” … his gentler side is responsible for some of the album’s most engaging moments, notably the beautiful pop melody of “Ermesinde” and the seductive “Come On Over to My House”…
The Independent

“Amongst the nine tracks are some of Black’s best work but although the album’s ambience shifts – from the darkness in ‘Black Suit’ and ‘Long Song’ to the whimsy in ‘Volcano!’ and the breezy ‘Break The Angels’ – the consistency does not.”
Drowned In Sound

”Fresh and really rather fab” Mojo

“Black Francis has brewed up a pretty thirst-quenching prospect with this new venture with his wife.” NME

“Grand Duchy have enough fun on the album that more often than not, it’s contagious.” All Music Guide