The Breakdown
Neal Francis’ Return to Zero is a lush, groove-heavy odyssey that seamlessly blends ’70s rock, funk, and disco into a sound that feels both timeless and immediate. His most ambitious work yet, the album was recorded live in the studio with his touring band, staying true to his deep love for analog recording. The result is a warm, organic record that pulses with energy, never feeling overproduced or overly polished. From its commanding funk-laced opener Need You Again—a track born from a Derrick Carter-inspired burst of creativity—to its hazy, cinematic closer Return to Zero, Francis proves once again that he is a master of crafting soulful, rhythm-driven rock with a vintage heart and a modern bite.
At the core of Return to Zero is its irresistible fusion of funk and rock, highlighted by tracks like Don’t Wait, which leans into sweeping strings, big piano chords, and a bassline that practically struts. Meanwhile, Broken Glass—the album’s centerpiece—takes a darker turn, merging hypnotic guitar licks, cinematic piano runs, and Francis’ falsetto in a way that evokes the cool swagger of classic Blaxploitation soundtracks. Featuring backing vocals from Say She She, the track was born from a jam session with Queens of the Stone Age’s Michael Shuman and captures the raw spontaneity that defines the album. Similarly, Can’t Get Enough flirts with space-age disco, its minimalist bassline and swirling synth textures making it one of the record’s most dancefloor-ready moments.
Francis also expands his sonic palette beyond funk and disco, dabbling in blue-eyed soul on Back It Up, which boasts a sleek, persuasive chorus and rich synth textures, and exploring folk-tinged indie rock on What’s Left of Me, a poignant reflection on life on the road. While it carries a more straightforward, melodic structure, it’s still infused with the album’s signature warmth, bolstered by layers of backing vocals and a piano-driven climax that lifts it beyond standard singer-songwriter fare. Tracks like 150 More Times embrace a barroom blues aesthetic, while Dance Through Life channels the slick confidence of ’70s AOR with shimmering synths and a sense of effortless cool.
Throughout Return to Zero, Francis manages to keep one foot in the past while pushing his sound forward, embracing genre-bending experimentation without losing his knack for melody and groove. Dirty Little Secret stands out as a straight-up indie rock anthem, elevated by funk-inflected synth work and male-female vocal interplay that gives it a seductive, strutting energy. Already Gone takes a more polished, radio-ready approach, with nods to Toto and Robert Palmer, while the brief but playful title track serves as a fittingly offbeat finale, its layered synth and piano work fading out as if the album is rewinding itself back to its origin.
With Return to Zero, Neal Francis has crafted a record that is as much about feel as it is about composition—an album that invites listeners to get lost in its grooves, its swirling melodies, and its unapologetic embrace of vintage aesthetics. It’s a confident, sonically rich statement from an artist who continues to evolve while staying true to the elements that make his music so intoxicating. Whether he’s channeling Curtis Mayfield, George Clinton, or late-’70s proto-house, Francis never loses his sense of identity, delivering a collection of songs that feel effortlessly cool and thoroughly enjoyable.
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