The Manic Phase, the latest EP by Tom Minor is a bright, heart-lifting journey that can be compared with sunlight breaking through a long gray period. Minor cleverly incorporating the rough around the edges pubs and street corners of Soho into a sound that is both nostalgic and new. The four tracks of this release are the love letter to the human soul, which is weird, complicated, and completely magnetic.
Opener and title track, “The Manic Phase,” starts with a retro flourish before its piano-driven harmonies call to mind the majesty of Queen and the sun-drenched vibes of the Beach Boys. But beneath the cheerful tune, there is a melancholic journey into the depths and euphoria of the human mind, based on an unrevealed person Steve, who was larger than life and story which Minor narrates with emotion. It is hard to take your eyes off the contrast between the light music and the seriousness of the lyrics, and it drags you in like a good pub story.
Other songs such as “Expanding Universe” and Future Is an F Word maintain the tempo of the EP on the indie rock with psychedelic bent that wink at the genius of Syd Barrett. The first half of the EP is a sound carnival, epic, emotional, and catchy, and the second half explores darker and more personal areas without letting go. A new dimension is opened up in each song, with circus-like songs, sophisticated arrangements and the producer Teaboy Palmer has given a finishing touch to the EP.
Being a fan of music, I can listen to *The Manic Phase* on loop. The ability of Minor to come up with songs that are up-beat yet profound makes this EP a treasure. It is the music that you never forget, just like a dense night out with your mates that you will always remember. Absolutely brilliant.
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