Surely now is the time for White to become the new black.

Life is full of mysteries and contradictions. What appears obvious to one, cannot be understood by another. Questions arise in my mind on a regular basis, "Why do people watch the X Factor....... why do they read the Sun........What do you mean you can't understand why we would rush into Iraq or Libya all guns blazing and ignore Zimbabwe?"  People amaze me at times, none more so when music becomes the topic of conversation.  Why do incredibly talented musicians pass through life relatively ignored, while talentless morons spend years in the public eye, primarily because they suit the current media trend?  Discuss.

The reason for this piece is one of Britain's most underrated artists, Tom White, has just released his third solo album as a stream on YouTube. White should be a household name, a multi instrumentalist who along with brother, Alex, is responsible for some of the greatest songs of the last ten years.  The fact the majority would question, Tom who? is testament to the unwillingness of many to be challenged musically in any shape or form  allowing themselves to be spoon fed by day time radio.

Tom and Alex White are Electric Soft Parade.  "Holes in the Wall," their debut album is one of the great psychedelic pop albums of all time and should be in any discerning music fans collection. Recorded at a very young age, the brothers produced tracks of incredible maturity, playing every instrument themselves.  While never quite being able to replicate this masterpiece, Electric Soft Parade have continued to produce another two inspirational albums, "The American Adventure" and "No Need to be Downhearted" since their debut in 2002.  


One great band is usually enough for most, not in the case of the White brothers, who are also integral to one of my all time favourite bands, Brakes, with Tom providing outstanding lead guitar and Alex, drums to the four piece. Brakes are impossible to categorise, equally at home thrashing out a blistering piece of punk, a perfect jangly indie pop anthem or switching effortlessly to country twang.  With ex British Sea Power keyboard player Eamonn Hamilton on vocals and Mark Beatty from The Tenderfoot on bass they are one of the best live bands on the circuit.  Of their four albums "Give Blood" is probably the pick, although  "Touchdown,"  "Beatific Visions" or the live "Rock is Dodelijk" are all worthy introductions to a truly individual outfit.

On the underground circuit at least, Tom White is a much respected and in demand  musician, contributing bass and drums to Restlesslist and Clowns respectively, he also played guitar on Patrick Wolf's "The Batchelor" becoming a part of his touring band to promote the album.

White's previous solo outings "I Dream of Black" and "The Maximalist" have been slightly patchy, they show him to be an artist unafraid of taking chances, mixing genres and styles freely.  You never know what to expect from Tom, which can only be applauded.

"Yalla," amazingly written and recorded over two weeks last September in Dahab, Egypt emphasises a more tender side to White, a collection of ten beautifully played, primarily acoustic songs which extenuate his vocal. Each track is currently streamed on YouTube in full, accompanied by a short film.  No release date is available for physical copies, but hopefully they will appear soon.


White has a date scheduled in his home town of Brighton at The Basement on April 9th. I can only hope a visit to North West England follows in the near future.

Surely now is the time, with the more accessible stark splendour of  "Yalla," that Tom White will receive the recognition he deserves as one of Britain's premier musical talents.




http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thomas-White-Official/321247218454

http://electricsoftparade.co.uk/