The first offering from “Francine, i” is “Modus Operandi”. This single features the same gentleness and sensitivity found on “self” but this time with a much bolder and dramatic soundscape. Opening with an affected acoustic guitar, the tone here is ethereal and ominous. A
few seconds later the guitar is joined by fretless bass, piano, percussion, and the intricate the interplay between alto and tenor saxophone; this is already unfamiliar territory for Marco Woolf.

We sit in this new space for almost a full minute before Woolf delicately cuts in with “Broke and I can’t find the patience, open-eyed with reservations” his delivery drenched in stoicism. The music pushes forward with the ebb and flow of the ocean, each verse swelling into the next with gentle harmonies undulating underneath until everything breaks away - the calm before the storm. What follows is an explosion of textural intrigue, a whirlpool of cross-rhythm and rich harmony.

For this recording he called on the talents of Alan Keary (Shunya, Chesaba) on bass, Ruben Sheridan (Jehst, Lovescene) on drum kit, Ruby Foran-Parkinson (Kara) on backing vocals, Tom Harris (Trampette, Ulita) on piano, Jamie Stockbridge (Agbeko, Taupe) on tenor saxophone and
Josh Poole (Untold Orchestra, GRAY-V) on alto saxophone. With storytelling being front and centre on this project, instead of giving the band musical direction, Marco Woolf wrote each musician a little story for them to respond to, the result being a tender journey where each
instrument plays a character.

“As an immigrant I have often felt that I consistently exist on the ‘border’” Woolf says. “In many ways I feel like an outsider in the UK even though I have spent most of my life here, however whenever I return to Malawi I feel a gulf between me and my “homeland”. I’m not terribly sad
about it though; yes this experience shatters the concept of ‘home’ for me, but the Francine’s of my life have taught me another way to view the idea of ‘home’. If you find the right kind of people, you can find a shelter with them and more wonderfully in turn you can be a shelter for them.
Having these incredible women in my life gave me room to truly be myself in a way that the “frontin’” culture of patriarchy doesn’t quite allow.”

The video was a collaboration between Marco Woolf and writer-director Rich Williams. It was produced by Willam’s film production company People Staring. The visuals are lush, sensual, full of bold colours. It focuses primarily on a solitary woman, Francine, who occupies two spaces, one an intimate living room space and the other a cabin on a boat. Playing Francine is Manchester based actress, poet and writer Yursa Warsama.