Introducing Michael Tomlinson (Guitar & Vocals), Macks Faulkron (Drums) and Gabi Woo (Keys) who go by the name of Many Things.
After the release of several singles over the last year or so, this London based trio finally release debut album Burn Together. The band are already getting some exposure and press from the likes of NME and Radio One, and the album is finally released on Australian label Dew Process, the very same label that hosts Mumford & Sons and Circa Waves.
Don’t be fooled by the label mates though, because although the songs have a hugely infectious swagger, that’s where the comparisons end.
Album opener, the 7 minute epic Holy Fire is a Simple Minds style romping stomp of a track, all pianos and backbeats, and the scene is set for the rest of the cuts.
An Abba style piano riff over thumping drums introduces following track Dear One, before cascading into another track that is crying out for a dance floor filling remix - you start to see why Radio 1 and the NME are interested in the band.
Alpha Romeo is track 3, and despite some potty mouth lyrics, is surely the next single (cleaned up first of course), and you can even see this being sung back to the band at next year's V Festival.
Chains, halfway through the album sees the first change of tempo, and possibly mood, talking about the chains of love and all, all sung over a 80s style synth led new romantic backdrop.
I Won't Run Away on Love (who will?) begins with an Editors-like lyrical style, before again fast forwarding into an impossibly infectious chorus and beat.
Best song title on the album Paranoid People Meet Me in the Middle starts with an almost choral, muted opening before again developing into potential floor filler, just like most of the tracks on show here.
This is an album that deserves to be played loud whilst getting ready for a Friday night on the town, and quite possibly could be playing at the clubs you stumble into. Try playing it and keeping still; almost impossible.
Many Things, may indeed be influenced by many things and styles, but the result is joyous, genuinely infectious and no reason why this won’t propel the band into the limelight.
Keith
7/11
