Hop Along’s Frances Quinlan & Thin Lips’ Kyle Pulley launch new band Parts Work, share “Trenton”

I don’t think we’re alone in feeling like it’s been far too long since we’ve heard from Hop Along and/or bandleader Frances Quinlan, who’ve popped up a few times in recent years but have mostly been in hibernation, so it’s very exciting to learn that Frances has a new project called Parts Work with frequent Hop Along collaborator and Thin Lips member Kyle Pulley. They have a four-song self-titled debut EP arriving on October 24, and opening track “Trenton” is out now.

Just going by this song alone, this feels like a triumphant return for Frances. It’s a many-layered art rock song with weepy pianos, eerie fiddle, manipulated electronics, poundingly percussive climaxes, and the kind of larger-than-life vocal delivery from Frances that helped make Hop Along such a beloved band. I assume we’re going to learn more about this project soon, but in the meantime, listen to this very good new song below.

Update: Frances posted on Instagram that “Trenton” features Thin Lips singer Chrissy Tashjian (who’s also sung on every Hop Along album) and Chance Milestone on backing vocals, former Hop Along member Dominic Angelella on guitar, Molly Germer on violin, and Logan Roth on keys. See the full post below.

Tracklist
1. Trenton
2. Clowd
3. Max Wrench
4. No Flower

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A post shared by Frances Quinlan (@francq__)