It’s been almost five years since Dylan John Thomas released his breakaway debut single, ‘Nobody Else’. The Glaswegian released his Scottish lullaby amidst a scene of ever-growing folk music — mostly thanks to Thomas’ contemporary Gerry Cinnamon selling out every arena he put his feet in.
Whether you’re a fan of the recent emergence of folk sang in thick Scottish accents may be down to if you’ve been to a live show or not. Gerry Cinnamon took the UK Indie scene by storm thanks to his impressive stage presence, but the studio versions of his songs can often fall short of capturing the magic produced at his sold-out arena shows. So far in Thomas’ young career, his studio releases have been pleasantly welcomed by casual listeners and furiously replayed by his core fanbase.
The Scotsman delivers his debut LP with hopes of encapsulating both his electric live performances he has become known for, but also the enjoyable quirks of his songwriting that have made him the artist he has become today.
Album opener and fan favourite ‘Fever’ shows that at the core of Thomas’ songwriting, there remains a passion for his craft and an outburst of personality. Possessing an enjoyable instrumental — plucky acoustics and punchy bass lines — the singer feels right at home and worthy of the stage he has built for himself.
Never overcomplicating things, the Scots’ music shines brightest when it’s just him and his acoustic. Followup ‘Feel The Fire’ has lyrics detailing the singer’s melancholy, “Took my medication but I think it’s wearing off”, yet the nature and melody of the track remains upbeat and optimistic.
Unfortunately the piano ballad, ‘What I Need’ puts the brakes on what was a smooth start. While Thomas does his best without his acoustic guitar as the focus, the instrumental still seems to fall short of the mark, lacking any of the quirks often found in his music. Thankfully, the fiesta inspired ‘Up In The Air’ is an easy pick-me-up; a song that will surely kick up a fuss when performed live. ‘Champs-Élysées’ from a lyrical standpoint is maybe the best on the record, with Thomas detailing about living his life to its potential: “I’ll never see where the sun goes/If I don’t open up my eyes”. The track is strong instrumentally too, with acoustic playing filled with inflections and licks that stick to your ears like sugar.
If Thomas is known for anything, it’s his live shows. It makes sense then for a live version of the excellent ‘Wake Up Ma’ as the closer of the album, arguably the strongest song off the entire record. His performance is brimming with warmth, and the crowd’s included vocals act as an extra layer of camaraderie; the lyrics are sombre yet hearing thousands of people joining in sparks life into the tender words sang.
Dylan John Thomas’ debut album can be seen as a love letter to the passionate fanbase who made him. His songwriting style — simple but sturdy — has remained the same from his debut single to his debut LP. If the Scotsman hasn’t won you over by now, it may take another effort to do so. Yet despite this, Thomas’ debut has songs that will fill the Barrowlands for many years to come.
Words by Niall McGreevy