Charles Thompson’s records of late aren’t exactly flying off the shelves, but the fact that only the faithful are keeping track of his work seems almost liberating for the occasional Pixies leader, who’s back to recording under the name Black Francis. Not that he ever worried much about other people’s expectations, but his past few albums have proven it by giving full rein to his creative whims. There were Americana explorations on Fast Man Raider Man, closely followed by the Herman Brood homage Bluefinger and now Svn Fngrs, a genre-hopping seven-song “mini LP.”
Playing as a trio with Violet Clark on bass and Jason Carter on drums, Francis touches here on shambolic funk, garage rock and Bowie-style glam, most of it laced with the spit and bite of vocals that border on coming gleefully unhinged. He hollers invectives on “The Seus” over a discordant funk guitar riff that sounds like it’s about to die, but croons with frightening sweetness on “Half Man”, a midtempo number with prominent growling guitar. “The Tale Of Lonesome Fetter” turns into a propulsive soul workout that’s a reflective counterpoint to the lo-fi rave-up “I Sent Away”.
Despite the omnivorous stylistic shifts, Svn Fngrs hangs together. No, it’s not the Pixies — those days are over. But Thompson/Francis/Frank Black still has something to say, and he’s not so quietly following his muse wherever it leads, regardless of who’s paying attention.