Thomas Tantrum
Armchair

A little while ago I happened to see Thomas Tantrum live. I thought they were pretty interesting, but not quite there yet.

However, in the world of creative development a 'little while' can allow a lot to happen: this single is, quite clearly, there. It reminds me a bit of Cay’s slower, more indie-pop moments* – all stops, starts and incongruities, employing a cut’n’paste approach to structure and with an echoing shimmer about it which lends a surreal beauty to its fundamental weirdness.

The vocals move from fairytale sweetness to abstracted chanting echoes to military-beat incantations, and the guitars and drums keep pace perfectly with these flickering, ever-distracted mood swings. It’s the kind of music that evokes disquieting feelings in the listener without ever allowing them to put their finger on quite what it is that’s stirring their spirits so, and thus manages to be one of the most haunting things I’ve heard for a while – and all in the guise of quirky indie-pop sweetness. I’m almost frightened to keep listening to it, because I’m sure it’s doing bad things to my brain – but I really, really don’t want to take it out the record player. Six minutes of spell-binding melodic witchery, and utterly charming with it. Highly recommended.

*Is that comparison at all helpful to anyone? Probably not. Sorry! They had an album, you know: Nature Creates Freaks. It was great, it was.