Vermont singer-songwriter Hannah Frances has released her new album, Nested in Tangles, on October 17, 2025. This release follows her critically acclaimed 2024 album, Keeper of the Shepherd. The new work explores themes of personal growth and resilience after dealing with familial relationships.
Frances describes Nested in Tangles as a continuation of her journey, moving beyond past struggles to forge her own path. The album features complex musical arrangements and raw lyrical content, showcasing her unique artistic vision.
Key Takeaways
- Hannah Frances released Nested in Tangles on October 17, 2025.
- The album follows her 2024 breakthrough, Keeper of the Shepherd.
- It focuses on themes of overcoming personal challenges and building resilience.
- Musical style combines folk with progressive rock influences.
- Frances worked with producer Kevin Copeland and a few collaborators.
Exploring Personal Journeys Through Music
Hannah Frances delves into deeply personal territory with Nested in Tangles. The album builds on the emotional depth of her previous work. While Keeper of the Shepherd addressed the loss of her father, this new album confronts the complex issue of a mother's emotional absence.
Frances uses intricate musical textures to convey these emotions. The opening track immediately sets an intense tone. Listeners encounter a blend of uneasy guitar work and slightly dissonant vocalizations. This creates a sense of psychological tension.
According to Frances, as stated in an interview with Hearing Things, "Keeper was about my daddy issues, and this one’s about my mommy issues." However, she clarifies that the album's true power lies in its exploration of what comes after these initial struggles. It focuses on enduring and moving forward.
Album Details
- Release Date: October 17, 2025
- Genre: Folk/Country, with progressive elements
- Label: Fire Talk
- Number of Tracks: Nine songs
A Soundscape of Complexity and Grandeur
Musically, Nested in Tangles showcases Frances's commitment to intricate composition. Her initial works drew comparisons to Joni Mitchell's early 1970s sound. However, this album, much like Keeper, leans more towards the elaborate styles of Mitchell's Hejira and the expansive vision of Laura Nyro.
Frances is a known admirer of progressive rock. She specifically requested that the band Gentle Giant be mentioned in her press materials. This influence is evident in the layered soundscapes and shifting meters found throughout the album. Her acoustic guitar playing, often using open tunings, allows for a rich tapestry of sounds to emerge.
The album's sound is often described as large and elaborate. Tracks like "Falling From and Further" and "Heavy Light" suggest a full orchestral ensemble. However, the recording primarily features Frances herself, producer Kevin Copeland, and a select group of friends, including Daniel Rossen from Grizzly Bear. These musicians often play multiple instruments, contributing to the album's dense and inventive arrangements.
"I’ve built around the harm." – Hannah Frances, from "The Space Between"
The Craft of Musical Storytelling
Producer Kevin Copeland played a crucial role in shaping the album's sound. The collaboration aimed to push creative boundaries. The team frequently asked, "But how can we make this more interesting?" This approach resulted in a dynamic and unpredictable listening experience.
Even instrumental pieces, such as the two-minute interlude "A Body, A Map," demonstrate this adventurous spirit. This track, positioned before the album's final third, features an electric drone foundation supporting a restless riff and rhythm section. Its magnetic and hypnotic quality could easily be a standalone piece for a math-rock band, yet for Frances, it serves as a transitional element.
Nothing on Nested in Tangles is passive or straightforward. Every musical choice contributes to the overall narrative and emotional impact. This active approach to composition mirrors the personal journey Frances undertakes in her lyrics.
Background on Hannah Frances
Hannah Frances is a singer-songwriter known for her introspective and often complex musical narratives. Her previous album, Keeper of the Shepherd (2024), received widespread acclaim for its honest exploration of grief and family dynamics. She is recognized for her unique vocal style and sophisticated acoustic guitar work.
Finding Strength and Trust
The personal quest driving Nested in Tangles is central to its appeal. Frances aims to transcend the difficulties of her upbringing. She seeks to become more than the sum of her past experiences. This ambition elevates the album beyond a collection of musical exercises or personal grievances.
"Life’s Work" stands out as one of the album's most direct and catchy tunes. In its refrain, Frances sings, "Learning to trust in spite of it is life’s work." Her voice tightens into a yelp on the final words, emphasizing the difficulty of this process. This song serves as a key to understanding the album's core message.
Another significant track is "Steady in the Hand." This elegiac love song reflects on the limits of love and the realization that the best moments may be in the past. Frances croons, "It takes living and losing to know what matters. The loving shatters the edges and softens me again." This lyric highlights a moment of grace where she transforms disappointment into an opportunity for self-improvement.
- "Life's Work": Focuses on the challenge of rebuilding trust.
- "Steady in the Hand": Explores the lessons learned from love and loss.
- "The Space Between": A declaration of resilience and overcoming past hurts.
Navigating Everyday Challenges
A specific moment in "Falling From and Further" resonates deeply. The song begins as a gentle country piece, with pedal steel guitar and imagery of crumbling sandcastles. It is a beautiful, melancholic, and accessible start. However, the drums soon introduce an anxious energy, pushing the song into faster, more jagged sections. Horns demand more from Frances, creating a multi-faceted track within five minutes.
After an initial burst of drums, the song returns to a calm, rural feel. Frances then sings about a common fear: merging onto a busy highway. She describes the road markings limiting her choices, singing, "I merge where it hurts." This seemingly mundane act reveals a profound sense of vulnerability. The simple act of driving becomes overwhelming, a metaphor for life's demands.
This concern, while ordinary, highlights how even everyday tasks can feel daunting when one is navigating significant emotional challenges. It is a relatable moment where the world, including its highways, feels too much to handle.
Frances does merge, and the song picks up speed again. At the track's conclusion, she offers, "More than this, I wish to feel it all." The layered vocals fall away, leaving her voice clear on that final phrase. This emphasizes her individual agency. It suggests that the ruptures of her past do not need to define her future anxiety. Hannah Frances, through Nested in Tangles, demonstrates she is already moving beyond those constraints.
The album is available for purchase at various retailers, including Rough Trade, where it is priced at $27.