This is a bit of a surprise, it’s not often that you’re able to mention Mission Of Burma and Jo?£o Gilberto in the same review, but then ‘The Last Blast’ is an unusual EP.
Thomas White takes time out from being the guitarist with The Electric Soft Parade with a diverse EP before the follow-up to his debut album of last year, the well received I Dream Of Black.
‘The Last Blast’ is a “dissection of the life and work of World War II novelist Sven Hassel” and features the cornet playing of Phil Sumner (of British Sea Power). It’s reminds me of Julian Cope (around the time of his best album, Jehovahkill or even Sparks or early Roxy Music, Magazine or more recently, Pop Levi?), a theme that’s taken up on the ‘Joy Balloo Megamix’ (shame it’s shorter than the original).
These two tracks ‘sandwich’ the cover of Mission Of Burma’s ‘Einstein’s Day’ that’s a bit guitar heavy post-punk but the best of the lot, ‘Brazil’. Ary Barroso wrote the classic bossa nova track ‘Brazil’ (originally made famous by Jo?£o Gilberto). Taking a leaf out of The Long Lost‘s and Daedelus’ Denies The Days Demise twist on bossa and samba beats, it all goes a bit manic! A real find this one for us eclectic types but shame the guitar fades out, why not a Santana-eques remix of that one; well Gilles Peterson did play Santana’s ‘Song Of The Wind’ a couple of weeks ago!
This EP download is in advance of the album The Maximalist that promises “12 tracks of bizarre post-modern pop music” with a range of influences as broad as the EP. This guy says “I just don’t like days off …” and it’s clear his listening is wide and varied; much like Cooking Vinyl itself – I missed Pere Ubu’s gig this week but you’ll also find their roster also includes such fine musicians as the Mexican Institute Of Sound, Echo & The Bunnymen, Billy Bragg and folky favourites, The Oyster Band (Lee you never call!) amongst many others.
‘The Last Blast’ is a rockin’ track that must be a highlight of the live shows. The tour kicks off tonight the in his hometown Brighton but he’s meandering all over the UK in March (see below) so try and catch him.
Thomas White on MUZU
The Maximalist is out on 15th March.
Forthcoming dates:
26 Feb 2010 Clowns @ Jam (Middle Street) Brighton
15 Mar 2010 The Water Rats London
18 Mar 2010 The Lock Tavern – Nika Club London
22 Mar 2010 The Cellars Portsmouth
24 Mar 2010 The Duchess York
26 Mar 2010 Duke’s Corner Dundee
27 Mar 2010 The Brel Bar Glasgow
28 Mar 2010 Bodega Nottingham
30 Mar 2010 FREE SHOW @ Arts Institute Cardiff
31 Mar 2010 Boileroom Guildford
Reviewed: Thomas White – The Last Blast (Cooking Vinyl) Cat. No: FRYDL419 Release date: 1st March 2010
Tracklistings:
1 The Last Blast (Radio Edit) (4:05)
2 Einstein’s Day (4:35)
3 Brazil (5:33)
4 The Last Blast (Joy Balloo Megamix) (3:40)
Links:
www.thomaswhiteonline.com
www.myspace.com/thethomaswhite
cookingvinyl.com
missionofburma.com
Pere Ubu: The First & The Last – Thursday 25 February 2010 at 8:30pm
Garage, 20-22 Highbury Corner, London N5 1RD “Pere Ubu will bring both ends of their career together in one special show at The Garage in London on February 25, performing in its entirety their first album from 1978 The Modern Dance and their latest Long Live P?®re Ubu! over the course of two sets”.
Gilles Peterson :: 10 Feb 2010
:: 02:00-04:00 BBC Radio 1 – Backstage At The Worldwide Awards
Santana — Song Of The Wind (Columbia)
