» performances » blog » soundclick » myspace.com/frncs

About the Current Releases · Listener Reviews ·

Press Reviews on chronology. · Why you should buy Mai-Ling's CDs ·

»» Music
Frances is an independent artist. These albums was entirely funded by the artist and listeners support through CD sales and shows, and in no way by a corporate, major label or goverment financial support. Her level of success depends on you. please show your appreciation by purchasing a CD and If you like what you hear spread the word to others who might also. Thank You.

» Audio: Myspace artist radio Soundclick artist radio NPR

go to the top of the page

»» About the Current Releases

The release of two healing CDs (Colors of the Sea/Favorites) has found Mai-Ling in a new front of her music spectrum. Inspired by several factors but most importantly incorporating the powers of music in therapy after her father's massive hemorrhagic stroke. Based off her mother's idea to listening to her favorite songs loop around at work to relax her. Many people use these CDs for: Yoga, Meditation, Massage Therapy and general relaxation. The continuous of three songs cycling allows for the body to relax and create a natural biorhythm with the music. ‘Colors of the Sea‘ offers a varied selection of songs all recorded live. From .Spite., the original angsty lyrical song written for the 'Taming of the Shrew', made into a hypnotic instrumental. ‘EvilTheme’ the theme scored for her first theatrical production, ‘Evil Little Thoughts’ and a B-side ‘Tin Silence’ put to the cutting room floor from a previous production. Each song represents a mood. The choices for the pieces were quite easy, as they are all different from each other. ‘EvilTheme’ was a definite choice, as it was through a listener’s email late one evening she visited Mai-Ling.s website. In distraught over a missing friend. She clicked on the NPR’s All Song’s Considered link where ‘EvilTheme’ was currently being featured that week and listened to it in full. It healed her emotionally. She said people find each other for a reason and there was reason that she was lead to Mai-Ling’s website to listen to the song. From the hypnotic sounds of .Spite., acoustical ambience of ‘EvilTheme’ to the aural sounds of ‘Tin Silence‘, this CD will put you in a relax state and into a mood that comforts you emotionally and physically.

'Favorites' opens with 'Naiad's Song', written for 'The Tempest'. The strings, piano, bass and layered vocals create an ambient and calming sound that has become a favorite amongst listeners. Followed by the piano and string instrumental 'For Jose'; written in and around the time of her friends accidental death by a train, and closes with the upbeat piano instrumental 'Valerie's Song'. Re-titled in honor of her friends favorite song, after her life was shortened by Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, 'Best Kept Secret' was born from scoring theatrical productions and her love of mixing live theatre and live music together; Along with that she incorporated her love for Shakespeare's writing with her music. This concept album has ten selections of instrumental scores ranging from 'Taming of the Shrew', 'The Tempest', 'The Miser' and 'Evil Little Thoughts'. This album received glowing reviews including a 10 out of10 and was called "Thinking Music" by one critic. Featuring her on Moleskinerie, a worldwide community of people who use the popular Moleskinerie journals. A feature on NPR's All Songs Considered allowed her music reach many more listeners people, through this it was brought to her attention how her music became a source for healing.

The highly anticipated concept album 'chronology.' has been in the making for five years. It includes: song sketches, spoken words and instrumentals. Songs that have been around for years, will finally be available to the world. Some re-recorded, the rest left alone with three brand new tracks. All mastered together to keep the organic live sound that Frances is known for, as ifyou were right there with her. Mai-Ling has always been treading in a different direction, the new record ‘chronology.’ is no exception. Her focus on putting a record together has always been viewed as an art form. Tying in certain elements; adding something new to the mix, bringing something old back in, yet keeping the tone relatively equal. She opens with the prose "WALLS", conveying a message about communication. A piece she wrote 10 years ago in her journal during a college class of Creative Writing.

Followed by the short piano piece "Homage" keeping the tone of "WALLS" in a instrumental way; written for the play "The Miser" in 2002. She continues with vocal songs, poetry and instrumentals. Ending the record with "The Commitment Song" (politically correct wedding song), written in response to playing at a wedding five years prior before shelving it. Then finding it again last summer after another wedding, to finally complete it. Feeling a need to have a song that is gender free and religious free. For ceremonies for all kinds. Each song was recorded over a specific period of five years. Each song that is present on .chronology.. was chosen by people who have loved her music over time. Based on the EP series, "universoulwoman", she compiled lists from listeners, then took the songs that flowed to create this current release.

go to the top of the page

»» Listener Reviews

"There is something so liberating in the apparent ease of your playing and singing. It intoxicates and we want more. It's a sense of 'where is it all coming from?' Keep on truckin' it."
-Keith of The Derz

"Wow! Your music is beautiful. I'm just listening to the first song, but it makes me feel like I did when I first saw the movie "The Piano" and listened to its amazing soudtrack. Exhilarated and intoxicatingly sad."
- Sarah Torribio-Bond, singer-songwriter

"I cryed the first time I listened to the art you are blessing the world with!!! You are an amazing woman and I would feel honered. Keep it up... you do great things for the people of this world!!! Inspiring!"
- Chris, listener (Arkansas)

"You do many complex things in your music, and for that, I commend you. Even your ability to play piano alone is something very valuable and something you yourself should be proud of. Good job, I'll be listening to your music whenever I'm able. Piano is very difficult, but with the right passion, you can achieve anything."
- Nikki, listener (Michigan)

"You're an amazing woman.. beautiful and talented. I hope all goes well for you. I'm just a young woman searching in life [happened to be online]... I came across your profile and one particular track spoke to me more than others.. it was "Understatement".. what a beautiful composition.. words are not enough for me to express they way it made me feel.. you're awesome!!! Many blessings!"
- Yulia, listener (SF, California)

go to the top of the page

»» Press Reviews on chronology.

'9 out of 10' ~ Midwest Bands

Frances Mai-Ling is one of the first artists I ever spotlighted on Collected Sounds six years ago when this site began. So we've kind of worked together lo these many years. But she's been making music for even longer than I've known her.

The record opens with a spoken word piece called "WALLS". It's lovely.

She has said herself that singing is not her strong suit, that she considers herself a pianist first. But I will say that her voice has improved. It sounds very nice especially on Track 3 where there's a nice soft touch to it. That's really a very pretty song all around. The piano part is enchanting.

One thing that has not changed is that she remains a very good piano player. These songs are beautifully written, complex and interesting.

"The Girl" is one track that's been on other releases in the past. It's an upbeat interesting song. Interesting in that it's got different movementsshe could have taken this song and written at least two different ones, but she put them in one. I like it when that happens.

"Firecracker" has the most amazing intro. I just love it! In fact the entire piano part and melody are fantastic. I think this is my favorite vocal song on this record.

"Understatement" sounds to me like it belongs in a film. She makes great use of the minor notes and dissonant chords. This is my favorite instrumental piece here.

I think this is Frances Mai-Ling's best release yet. I'm really enjoying it.
~ Amy at Collected Sounds (USA)

A significant journey into the world of contemporary New Age music
 
The CD Chronology range over different aspects of pure New Age music, someone can describe it like conceptual, others like experimental with large number of improvisations or more close to the stage/concert music. I will just define it like sensitive piece of gem, with peculiar goal, namely to reach the hearts of usual people, those who believe that the music will prevail the whole pain scattered around the world. Sometimes the less is more!
 
Mai-Ling shows enviable skills in performing piano. Not by chance all of her tunes are based exactly with classical piano sounding. I felt power and confidence, which speaks for one composer, standing behind this project, who knows exactly how to express her feelings with music. There is more, for except of that she did all lyric, graphic design & vocals, amazing and comprehensive!!! I can tell one thing with a strong will, everyone can leave behind the impossible. This is exactly what is happened in Chronology.
 
What most impressed me is the tenderness flowing around the keys of the piano and in some moments just like storm comes the powerful dynamic of one fighting soul, as though wants to cry out I am alive and still here. Most of the music is sentiment and emotion, dressed with classical motives and technical ability. Even in this acoustic view piano, vocal & light pads/strings, you can be touched by the angelic melodies and start imagine a better world. I think is emphasized on expression, with words about love, friendship, knowledge, fear, friendship things that trilled almost every human on this planet, but seems forgotten by most of us. Then comes the music like a forerunner of goodness, still exist in us.
 
I cant bypass the main purpose of the creation of this CD A portion of this CD will be donated to the American Stroke Association to help support stroke research. This just proves that we are all humans, and have not to forget who we are and from where we are coming and where we are going. We are all the same. Such activities unites people and makes them strong against everything surround us, even incurable illness, could pass through the hand of magic. Magic comes when you believe in it. Music makes you to believe, like a child.
 
My favourite tracks from the album are Hold On, Firecracker, Not To Be This Way and The Commitment Song, generally almost all vocals tunes. As a follower of melodic and atmospheric sound, I have always searched for this and appraise it firstly.
Mai-Ling is very talented composer, who has place among advanced pianists in the world. Not accidentally she performed on stage, in so many places and has great background concerts in her career. To be a poet and musician in the same time is a gift, which I appreciated.
 
It was a pleasure for me to review your music and thank you for sending me your CD, I will keep it on special place. ~ Sleepwalker (Bulgaria) at Indie News Live

Frances Mai-Ling's latest piece of work "Chronology" sounds like soundtrack music to a romantic movie,it's very simply done with just a classical piano and her voice but in this case it's the pianist Frances who is the star of the show coz she plays like a female Keith Jarrett.
She might not be the strongest female vocalist I know but she really makes the words talk in "Hold on",the instrumental theme "Homage" could be taken from the classic movie "Love story" (1970).
These are her own words:
"Chronology" is exactly what it is,a time line - each track represents a special moment when it was recorded and they were all recorded live.
As a classical trained pianist,you are taught to record each piece all the way through,no punching in and out,no pitch fixing and no over dubbing - Frances is not into sterile sound recording,she's captures the moment with every song and when she says "nothing is worse than souless music"
I agree totally! ~ Kaj Roth at Melodic (Sweden)

"The piano sings for her too, and does it beautifully."

FrancesMai-Ling has only two years of piano training, but you could never tell by the sound of the instrument she plays on this CD. I absolutely loved the piano on every single track here, although admittedly I preferred the slower tunes to the peppier ones. The moodiness of the piano on those slow tracks combined with Mai-Ling's sometimes misty voice echoing really worked. It moved me.

I particularly enjoyed track 7, "Not To Be This Way." Admittedly, the vocals are not as strong as the piano, sometimes wavering a bit -- almost as if she is unsure -- but never quite getting totally off track. Sometimes, however, she reads her words without accompaniment, and I loved that--usually followed up immediately with the piano by itself. It's a wonderful vehicle for her to deliver her words, as her spoken voice is strong and sure, and the piano follow-up is almost like a time of meditation to reflect on the words she has just given you.

The last song on the CD, "The Commitment Song," is also termed the "politically correct wedding song." It was written so as not to have a gender or religious reference, and the lyrics work -- not feeling forced, just some simple truths that any couple would share that are in love.

This CD is worth the time to check out. What Mai-Ling does not have in vocal prowess she more than makes up for in heartfelt delivery. Plus, the piano sings for her too, and does it beautifully.
~ Catherine Tully at Indie-Music

Frances Mai-Ling is a gifted pianist whose playing flows beautifully throughout her 10-track Chronology. Mai-Ling’s experience composing scores for independent films and theater shines through on the delicate instrumental “The Understatement.”
~ Terrence Flamm at Illinois Entertainer

Frances Mai-Ling welcomes us into her space with a brief monologue about communication, divides, and our own ineptitude. About “our own petty concerns,” and our need to “speak freely and shed our fears, and reach out, so the walls are no longer.” This brief look into the person of Frances Mai-Ling then gets a musical backdrop for a while, with piano, vocals, and an occasional string patch. Through a variety of musical characters, with great rubato and emotive scoring she ping-pongs between fact and perception in a seemingly very personal way. Track 4, “The Girl” speaks of being held in someone’s figurative arms, with a joyful bounce appropriate to lyrics like “I feel like a girl in a story, kissed by Prince Charming…”. This is balanced by more somber tracks like, “Tears in My Palm,” to create what sounds like a very sincere recording. Frances, a classically trained pianist, brings traditionally technical piano playing to a singer/songwriter format, in what she calls “alternative classical” piano playing. She uses the instrument broadly, with thick arrangements and rhythmically complex playing. There are moments where her vocals get a chance to shine a bit, but generally the winning element of the record is the piano work. Her piano playing seems like “one-take” material, too with an occasional albeit-minute bobble and that ever-swaying rubato of live performance, serving as even more evidence to the sincerity of the record. Track 9, “understatement” is another technical and flowing piano solo track, which Mai-Ling keeps interesting in both writing and performance. As a whole, the record is quite interesting, as a look into the unique and creative person of Frances Mai-Ling. A thoughtful and skilled pianist. In first person.
~ Jonathan Steinmeier, Chicago Music Guide

go to the top of the page

»» Why you should buy Mai-Ling's CDs

go to the top of the page