R.D. Thomas - What Circus Is This? (Victory 
March Records)
Release Date: Out Now
Once upon a time, in a basement bar in Brighton, I was introduced to a band called Brother & Bones who absolutely blew me away. The captain of that particular ship was one R.D. Thomas who possessed the most amazing voice and charm so it is a real delight to receive the debut album from that captain. 'What Circus Is This?' opens with 'Headlines', a song that sounds like it was both written and recorded in the wee small hours as it glows warmly like the dying embers of a fire, Thomas' vocals humming gently from the shadows. 'Paint By Numbers You' picks the pace up with a processed beat and guitar melodies rippling furiously like water rushing down the river to the sea and that vocal taking on a more urgent tone without losing the vulnerability and raw honesty.
There is a sense of summer laziness to 'Salt', inspired by Thomas' native Cornwall, while 'Sugar Coated Brain' has an optimistic vibe with a breeziness similar to David Kitt or George Ezra in reflective mood. The bubbling beats and rippling acoustic notes of 'Stray Dog' make you want to take to a boat for the day and leave the hassle of the real world behind before title track 'What Circus Is This?' gives us a folky and introspective song to revel in. This is definitely a progression of Thomas' sound and that is no more evident than on 'This Bloom' which blends a lilting folk melody with atmospheric piano and alt-pop inspired vibes throughout.
The guitar sound on 'For My Next Trick' is deliciously lush but when paired with those fragile vocals it makes for the kind of song you want to keep on a loop during the first days of Spring as mother nature reveals all of her tricks of colour, life and an awakening of the senses. 'Welcome To The Deep End' employs a rattling acoustic strum that is the closest this album comes to the Brother & Bones era before 'And I'm Gone' is a real slow-plucked delight straight from the front porch as the sun goes down on your last day in town. The album closes out on 'Numbers Game' which bubbles and scatters beats beneath a gently but confidently played guitar melody giving Thomas one last opportunity to lay his vocals out on the line along with his heart. R.D. Thomas is not an imposing figure or an attention seeking personality but he is a force of nature and if you spend any time with his music then you will be all the better for it.
More information: https://www.instagram.com/r_d_thomas/
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