Tom Hickox: Monsters In The Deep

Described by one national newspaper as: “The most powerful and original lyrical songwriter this country has produced in years,” on the release of his debut album – 2014’s War, Peace And Diplomacy on Fierce Panda – and now about to head out on tour supporting Julian Cope, the reasons are stacking up to take what may be your fi rst delve into the world of Tom Hickox. Musically, this is far more playful than you’d expect, especially on songs such as Istanbul, which begins optimistically (“I’ll bring you chocolate, I’ll bring you peaches/ We’ll drink tequila on exotic beaches”) and ascends from there. 

SoundCloud stats show that by far the most popular track here is The Fanfare, which certainly has an energy and a commercial edge that’s parked throughout the rest of the album in favour of more experimental whimsy.

But the standout here is the minimalist Collect All The Empties – in which the kick-drum beats are so subtle as to be almost indistinguishable from pops and crackles of surface noise on the (120-gram, incidentally) vinyl. This and the whole album are shot through with a melancholy Scott Walker tilt, a Colin Vearncombe shade of black and a sense of David Lynch’s night music that makes Monsters In The Deep, even in its lighter or more romantic moments, pull heavily on the heart strings.

(Ian Peel - Long Live Vinyl)