Smith begins to achieve his full potential on this high quality new EP. Out on vinyl June the 12th on Fiction Records. Available on streaming now.
When you get your first gig support slot age 8, and appear at Glastonbury before you start secondary school, a lot of other people are going to be forming your identity. Tom A. Smith (that A. is important when you have a very common name) is now 22. Over the last few years he has had the opportunity to try on a range of styles. You could almost accuse him of cosplaying, but really it is just trying to find out your real identity when you are already getting more of the spotlight than an average person your age would expect.
On this new EP Smith is trying on being LCD Soundsystem, and this set of clothes ends up fitting remarkably well. There are a couple of tracks on here that James Murphy would have absolutely loved to have come up with himself, that could fit on extremely well to legendary albums like Sound of Silver. He really is that good as a singer, writer, guitarist and producer.
Recent single ‘SFX’ showed how funked up the new material was going to be. There are all manner of synth sounds, but it is the strut of the guitars that instantly catches the ear. Several of these tracks could easily be rebuilt as pure disco with very little effort. The finished elements of indie-dance are strong though, it really does suit him.
If ‘SFX’ gets the party started, ‘Our Song’ kicks it up a whole notch. His voice is developing a new depth to it, somewhere between James Murphy, David Byrne and a hint of a young Tom Waits.
‘The Only One’ slows it down and then builds it up. “I know I won’t go to to Hell but I don’t think I’ll ever reach the sky” he ruminates, before adding, “I don’t think I’ve ever disappointed, but on the other hand I don’t think I’ve done anything right.” There is some real depth on this track. An artist forming who has all the tools to carry on developing, improving and hit a level akin to fellow North Eastener Sam Fender.
Just you when you can’t imagine it getting any better the EP title track absolutely blows you away. ‘Put On A Record Tommy’ fizzes, it deserves to send indie dance floors into hysterics for years to come in. Again, it acknowledges that sense of a forming identity. Also, how do you put on a good show when you are having a bit of an off day? “Well I guess this is me forever now, suited and booted. Well I kind of like it. And you know I kind of need it. Well Tommy get your s**t together, they don’t need to know about it, alright. Hey kid you’re going to America. Just put on a good show, alright.” The chorus is phenomenal.
‘No Matter What’ carries on the sense of rumination, of interior monologue well explored. This is a different sort of classic sound, a waft of something like Hammond organ blowing it along. The kind of track that could have been written anywhere between the 1960s and now. ‘The Band’ is so good he has been using the six minute epic as his set closer on his recent small venue run.
Tom A. Smith can do guitar tracks. He can do indie-disco stomps. He can do thoughtful. He can do fun. He is the real deal. This is an excellent stepping stone onto the road of a bright, huge future in the music industry.
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