M S Thomason - Under The Birch Tree - Reviews...
This is enough to make us bust out crying. 'Under The Birch Tree', the debut record from one M S Thomason, isn't simply nine smoky, softly-spoken, acoustic numbers, it sounds like the work of a man pouring his heart out.
Ok so the world isn't exactly short of emotional balladeers at the minute but almost as soon as second track 'Bloody Mess' strums to life Thomason proves himself to be a very singular prospect indeed- the soul-shaking four minutes recalling the gravely edge of Dustin Kensrue, the understated melodies of Sam Beam and the instant emotional connection of Damien Rice without once resorting to copycat stuff or solo artist clichés. And things continue just as finely too- 'My Love' is a quiet streak of claustrophobic darkness, 'Ballad of Narissa Grey' adds a haunting stomp and echo to proceedings and seven-minute closer 'Perfect Little Soul' explores feedback, rueful lyrics and movie soundtrack ambience with skill, pertinence and ease.
It adds up to a stunning debut album from a new brilliant British talent but best of all '…Birch Tree' is a raw, open and honest record that will make most sense at dawn, dusk or driving through the night, but will work wonderfully well at pretty much anytime, anywhere.
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Subbaculture
Broken blues from Manchester's new folk troubadour…
Manchester/Stoke on Trent based M S Thomason had only three songs penned when he was asked to accompany none other than Nick Oliveri for his first live show. Not bad going really. Under The Birch Tree is the follow up to those three songs, his debut record for We Like danger records. It’s one man and his guitar folk blues, deeply introspective, and painfully lonesome.
Comparisons with Elliott Smith are apparent immediately, but this is (if it is possible) more haunting than that. There is a darker more sinister edge to
Thomason's music. Whereas Smith had much more melody through his music (of course he was haunting when he wanted to be),
Thomason's music is much more chilling to listen to. Songs like Bloody Mess and the fantastic What is Hell? have a rawer, grittier approach. Maybe it’s the production, the subtle production makes this a more personal experience. There is no doubt that this is Manchester’s answer to Elliott Smith, the vocal harmonies have that same eerie sadness.
This guy has surely had some trouble in his life; songs like My Love wouldn’t have been written otherwise. Bare to the bone, a dry melody faintly pulses the song along.
Thomason's husky, dry vocals linger very note on New York, whilst Ballad of Narissa Grey couldn’t be more dreary and broken hearted, echoing Heartbreaker/Love Is Hell era Ryan Adams. This is very fine, well crafted song writing. Album finale, perfect little soul, is perhaps the liveliest song on the album. By no means uplifting, it shows
Thomason's guitar technique in full flow
Moody, gothic, romantic, UTBT bares the breaking point of a man. A fantastic, weary and cutting debut
By: Marc Higgins
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:: M S Thomason ::
12 November 2007 / WeLikeDanger! / 9 Trk CD
By Manuel Ecostos
A bit of a hidden secret as yet, M S Thomason is hiding somewhere in a Manchester bedroom. It’s the fruits of this isolation that are found on this debut collection of the sounds of one man and his guitar. For this collection of charming, self penned, produced and arranged songs he packed himself off to a farmhouse, which is an even more remote place to be. On the CD there appear to be minimal overdubs, but it’s Thomason's voice that carries each track ever on. “Bloody Mess” isn’t an angry folk song, but a reflective slice of urban acoustica that gently strums along with the occasional keyboard. It’s the chord structures and the inviting voice of Mr Thomason that provide such a captivating equation. “My Love” is a simple premise; gentle arpeggios and a balanced, gossamer melody. The voice seems to be hovering on collapse but it’s at such a soft, billowing point that any fall would drop like a graceful feather. “Whispers” is maybe the first track to draw deeper breaths followed by the apparently brisker pace of “Perfect Little Soul” but even so, these are ballads in anyone’s book. A delightful moonlit collection of soothing, inner city acoustica with a slightly dark heart.
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MS Thomason - “Under The Birch Tree” (Welikedanger!)
‘Under The Birch Tree’ is the album from acoustic singer M S Thomason and is the third release from Welikedanger! Discovered from playing in his bedroom through late-night drunken webcam posts, the album sounds as simple and stripped-down as his DIY ethic. I am not a big expert on acoustic, and so I can’t say this album is especially exceptional- but don’t try to dismiss it as another release from whiny British acoustic warblers, give it a listen. Less Damien Rice, and more Elliot Smith-esque (especially on tracks like ‘What Is Hell?’ and ‘Under the Birch Tree’), there is a quiet, haunting edge in the music that sends you reaching for a blanket. In it’s simplicity, it’s a good winter album.
WC