Frankey & Sandrino - &Hope EP [Sum Over Histories]

Format: 12" colored vinyl in printed sleeve.
CAT: SOH015

‘&Hope EP’, the 4-track EP from Frankey & Sandrino, is a celebration of the duo’s alliance and a journey into their musical symbiosis. After almost a decade of making music together, the two feel more connected than ever and grateful to be able to express themselves creatively without compromise. The EP departs from their characteristic eclectic dance music sound and clearly pushes their own boundaries, incorporating a wide variety of new musical elements.

The first track, ‘Hope43,’ is a methodical electronic production with scattered industrial elements that convey a sense of harshness and unease. That frantic energy soon transforms into cohesion, projecting an image of unity and collectivity. It was precisely this synchronization that Frankey & Sandrino felt when creating the track; so much so that Frankey called Sandrino on his way home from the studio to tell him how gratifying the session had been.

‘Green Leaf’, the second track of the EP, explores completely different ground. The duo truly pushed each other on this track, using a new synthesizer with a sound reminiscent of Pink Floyd to create an atmospheric, psychedelic experience. The mostly analog production brings breadth and depth to the EP, making it impossible to pigeonhole. ‘Green Leaf’ occupies its own sonic space: a kaleidoscopic creation that reflects a powerful musical synergy.

The accelerated sound of ‘Rana’ continues the journey, lifting the listener above the clouds into another dimension. Oriental-inspired synthesizers cut through the deliberate rhythm, while crashing cymbals and deep bass add intensity and texture. Throughout its eight minutes, the track builds and releases energy with unexpected, sometimes almost cartoonish, turns, resulting in a playful yet technically brilliant piece, born from a place of great trust and creative comfort.

‘TGA’, the final track on the EP, features the vocals of Ia Öberg, who also participated in Frankey & Sandrino’s popular track ‘Ways of the Sun’. The duo describes this piece as both joyful and melancholic: a slow-growing groove that moves away from big drops to develop and culminate gradually and carefully. The result is an almost philosophical exploration of the depth of house, with powerful vocals that evoke images of darkness, light, loss, and hope.

With its characteristic “&” symbol in psychedelic colors and multiple layers on the cover, the EP’s artwork visually represents both the artists’ musical capabilities and their sense of unity.

Frankey comments: “Making this EP with Sandrino has been one of the most positive experiences of my musical career. I feel lucky to have found a creative partner who is on exactly the same wavelength as me, and I feel like this EP completely explores and communicates that synergy.”

Sandrino comments: “We really pushed ourselves with this EP: we managed to get out of our usual state and into another sphere. We played with elements we had never used before and created new sounds and energies that even surprised us.”