Brian Eno, Igor Stravinsky, Funkadelic, Euphone, Ween, Max Roach, Wayne Horvitz, Timothy Young, Frank Zappa, Sly Stone, Dead Kennedys, Henry Cow, Silver Apples, Tao Jones, Tortoise, Sun Ra, Beastie Boys
Sounds Like
See me live:
- South First Billiards - 420 S. 1st St. in San Jose
"Frank’s “Stop the Machine” is a rich medley of strangely intergalactic vocals, racing electronic keys and quick analog drum crashes that hits with a metallic slap. It’s certainly robotic, yet its technical imperfections and strange catchiness bring it out of the often-sterile sounding realm of straightforward electronic music and to an entirely different place. Somewhere between a boss level on an Atari game and a strange future, “Stop the Machine” hits with breakneck precision.
It’s a complex track. Yet despite the fullness of “Stop the Machine,” all of this sound—and you have to admit, it’s pretty full—is made by Frank alone.
In the world of electrodelic music, that’s not necessarily anything to write home about. Electronic musicians pile layer of layer onto a track, filling in every nook and cranny with sounds and filler, and you’d be hard-pressed to find electronic-style music that isn’t full.
Thing is, it’s usually all done with studio wizardry. In Frank’s case, it’s quite the opposite. Instead of relying on computers and multi-tracking, he fires it all out on his own—and at the same time. Frank manages to at once play keyboards and drums while singing. He sits poised on a stool, surrounded by his unique rig, pounding out beats, tickling the electric ivories and singing into a mic that looks uncomfortably placed over his shoulder.
Check out his video for “am,” Frank’s admittedly more “accessible” song. It’s something that really needs to be seen to fully appreciate.
- AP Kryza : LocalCut.com
"One-Man Mayhem:
The mysteries behind Frank Dufay’s magical ability to play keys and drums while singing are the sort only known to vaudevillian one-man-bands and robots. Perhaps Frank is a robot, because despite the electronic feel to his quirky songs, he uses no loops or samples. The biggest surprise? It sounds fantastic."
- AP Kryza : Willamette WeekHighly Recommended
". . . out of nowhere, this band started killing it in the other room. It sounded great, so I got up to go check them out. When I got to a place [where] I could see, I was floored. There was only this one guy on the stage playing drums with both feet and his right arm, while his left arm was playing two keyboards. Oh yeah, and he was singing. When I looked over at my friends, Eli and Joe, they were a mixture of joy, amazement and jealousy. (Joe was pounding his head on the table in between cigarettes.)
The guy playing was Frank. An Oregon native and an obvious Brian Eno fan . . . While you're out going to Betty Ford, Tube or where-ever-else the Mercury staff goes to do blow, Frank is in his attic; practicing. Guys like Frank are a vital part of local music."
- Whiteteeth Photographics
" . . . The first hit I got off of Frank's four song CD he sent me was Devo, and that is a very strong compliment. By tracks two and three I began hearing some of those older sounds that came from some of the progressive Pop/Rock bands of the late 90's. You may also feel like you are listening to a soundtrack to a video game, but the good video games from the Atari era.
This is interesting stuff, and it's impressive that this is one man playing it all simultaneously . . ."
- Pacific Northwest Music Scene
__________
Quotes:
"I think your lyrics have a sweetly cynical secular humanist appeal."
- Casey Scott
"My friends and I were blown away last night. My friend Joe said, 'While I've been drinking, that guy's been playing. Dammit.'"
- Whiteteeth Photographics
Hey Frank I will probably make it to Mama Buzz. I'm still looking for work and trying to extricate myself from this total fucking loser that I've been seeing.
Why yes it is almost my birthday! Thank you for the bday wishes! Someday I would like to check out the bay area, but at least I am getting my trip to the desert by going to Burning Man in a few days! Hope you are well, miss ya; Kelly and I were just reminiscing about the B and B days with ya. :)
Yeah, I need to get down to the old BA (SF, Oakland, Berkeley, etc.). I've got a mad jones for some Cheese Board Pizza, not to mention some good old Frank.
hey frank! sorry I didn't get back to you, Tough times... been working a lot and writing music in my spare time. I would like to jam with you some time. What have you been up to?
Highly Recommended
