Francis, Neal: Return to Zero LP

Equal parts heady and hedonistic, pensive and euphoric, Return to Zero (the 3rd LP from Neal Francis), echoes both his deep-rooted, psych-rock sensibilities and lifelong love of classic funk. Amid a tour schedule that found him playing 400 shows from 2021 to 2024, the Chicago-based singer/songwriter/pianist immersed himself in creating a beautiful, strange, all-analog entangling of timeless rock & roll and ’70s-era dance music, merging supremely heavy guitar riffs with lush, pulsating grooves.