Thomas White is The Maximalist! In fact, everything about this album is taken to the maximum so don’t be put off by the cover.
There was a bit of a home town pre-release party at Jam in Brighton last month but the optimism about the single ‘The Last Blast’ (see review HERE) was clearly not misplaced.
The new album is a complex soundscape with influences that span for 70s prog rockers to northern brass bands; sometimes in one track like ‘Jerusalem Thorn’. Clearly going for ‘odd as Syd Barrett’ the cover has to rate as one of the worst of the year so far. But don’t let that put you off. ‘Moonlight And Snow’ could be early Floyd (well to start with) but this really is “bizarre post-modern pop”.
White produced, recorded and wrote all of the songs on this album himself, apart form his cover versions of songs by Warren Zevon (‘Accidentally Like A Martyr’), Guided By Voices (‘Look At Them’) and a spoken word section taken from Dory Previn’s ‘Left Hand Lost’ on the closing track ‘…Lost’.
You’ll recall the ‘The Last Blast’ is his “dissection of the life and work of World War II novelist Sven Hassel” that features the cornet playing of Phil Sumner (of British Sea Power) and it’s his playing that contribute to the best tracks; particularly the psych out synth meets horn ‘Synapse Galaxy’ with some wicked drumming.
Inevitable there’s some “psychedelic cosmic love from California” (as Carlos Ni?±o jets his Niel Young/CSN&Y/Buffalo Springfield collection out) as in ‘The Devil In A Trojan Horse’ – is that not a West Coast 60s rock song title?
‘Accidentally Like A Martyr’ is more like 70s MOR (at least its not Zevon most well known song, the deadful ‘Warewolves Of London’) and White’s own folky-rock ‘Starry Night #4′ is much better.
White’s recent gigs featured a backdrop of psychedelic visuals in keeping with the spirit of his new album so expect to see more of the same during the March tour which includes two London shows this week; both venues are small so get their early or get booking now.
Take it to the max[imalist] with Thomas White!
Forthcoming dates:
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 Maximalist (Cooking Vinyl) Cat. No: COOKCD503 Release date: 15th March 2010
Tracklistings:
1 Introducing The Band (2:36)
2 Jerusalem Thorn feat. Phil Sumner (4:06)
3 The Last Blast feat. Phil Sumner (4:02)
4 Moonlight And Snow (6:12)
5. The Weekend feat. Phil Sumner (7:34)
6. Synapse Galaxy feat. Phil Sumner (5:46)
7. The Devil In A Trojan Horse (4:05)
8. Accidentally Like A Martyr (3:25)
9. Starry Night #4 (5:18)
10. A Bitter Pill (4:14)
11. Look At Them (2:15)
12. …Lost (6:54)
Links:
www.thomaswhiteonline.com
www.myspace.com/thethomaswhite
26 Feb 2010 Clowns @ Jam (Middle Street) Brighton
cookingvinyl.com
gbv.com
robertpollard.net
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 Maximalist (Cooking Vinyl) Cat. No: COOKCD503 Release date: 15th March 2010
Tracklistings:
1 Introducing The Band (2:36)
2 Jerusalem Thorn (4:06)
3 The Last Blast (4:02)
4 Moonlight And Snow (6:12)
5. The Weekend (7:34)
6. Synapse Galaxy (5:46)
7. The Devil In A Trojan Horse (4:05)
8. Accidentally Like A Martyr (3:25)
9. Starry Night #4 (5:18)
10. A Bitter Pill ($:14)
11. Look At Them (2:15)
12. …Lost (6:54)
Links:
www.thomaswhiteonline.com
www.myspace.com/thethomaswhite
26 Feb 2010 Clowns @ Jam (Middle Street) Brighton
cookingvinyl.com
gbv.com
robertpollard.net
warrenzevon.com
