Debut Album From Singer Songwriter Francis Jocky : Mr. Pain Multitalented musician Francis Jocky is something of an enigma. Born in Cameroon, raised in France and living in the U.S., Jocky has developed a sound that transcends ethnicity and genre. His music is superbly balanced with mood enhancing grooves, layered vocal bliss and a funky, international vibe. With the release of his first solo album, “Mr. Pain,” Jocky is taking his undeniable talent to the world. Everyone who hears Francis Jocky sing wants to know more about him. Jocky has already become a well known personality in the international music scene. Francis and his brother Bobby formed the band “Class” with their friend Patrick Dage and launched a successful French tour, garnering rave reviews from the press. Francis also formed “Know” with former “Yes” head man Jon Anderson and composed the songs on the band’s critically acclaimed album; “The More you Know.” In various capacities, Francis has shared microphones with Ray Lema, Wally Badarou, Bono and Stevie Wonder, and his solo music has been featured on some of the biggest stages in Europe and America. Francis Jocky’s first solo release, “Mr. Pain,” is the first chance for many audiences to see why Francis has made such a big splash in the music community. Smooth, beautiful vocals and lush arrangements are only part of it; Francis’ music has a universal appeal that must be experienced firsthand. The title track, “Mr. Pain,” is a groovy, mellow song that revolves around Francis’ voice and keys, highlighted by guitars and satisfying effects. Listeners may hear echoes of Seal’s compositions, or Sting and old Police records. The song has an upbeat, pleasing drive and Francis’ lyrics are warm and inviting. On the love song, “Like You,” Francis opens with delicate acoustic guitar and his voice. “There’s no one who can love me like you.” He sings, as they keys trickle in like gentle rain. When the background vocals enter, the song takes on an African flavor that fits perfectly with the tender sensibilities of Francis’ loving lyricism. On “My Life,” Francis’ adopts a sound reminiscent of Motown recordings of the seventies. It is for songs like this that fans have compared Jocky to Al Jarreau. While, “My Life,” has a definite old skool feel, with horns and funky guitar, the song has a modern feel as well. Francis Jocky is one of today’s most original and inspiring musicians. On “Mr. Pain,” Jocky blends aspects of jazz, funk, soul, rock, pop, and international music into a patchwork of tracks that will find a home in every true music lover’s collection. Francis sings with honesty and conviction, without being pretentious and his compositions are perfectly balanced. “Mr. Pain,” is a wonderful introduction to Francis Jocky’s solo work and an education in the international language of songs Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.