“Out of the Oddness” – Tom-Lee Richards

I’ve been intending to review Tom-Lee Richards’ album Out of the Oddness for a few days now. But every time I went to start typing I couldn’t bring myself to do it. This is the kind of music that is just made to be appreciated. It casts a spell which would be broken by the tap-tap-tapping of my fingers on my keyboard. I worried the magic might not be as potent if I started to analyse it, in much the same way that a magician’s tricks lose their wonder once you know how they’re done.

But if I didn’t review it, I told myself, you wouldn’t know how special it is. It’s not a big blockbuster release, so you won’t hear its songs on radio. It would have been buried by all of the other albums on your streaming service. You’d never find it, and that would be a great shame. So after spending days just listening, I reasoned that it really was important I stepped out of that bubble of appreciation and little and put my thoughts down.
From the opening strains of “Beside You,” you know you’re in for something unique. It’s striking in its stripped back soundscape, with just a gentle acoustic guitar and Tom-Lee’s voice easing you in before you’re picked up by the groove of the chorus. From that moment, if you’re lucky, you’ll find yourself like me, carried away by the beautiful music Tom-Lee creates.

He has a gift for creating unique soundscapes which sound so pretty and original. Sonically, this is such a strong album. The instruments come together so beautifully, and Tom’s voice has such a special quality. But there’s more than that at play. The lyrics of these songs are so moving. I felt so caught up in the tracks, whether Tom-Lee is singing of longing in “Beside You” or social isolation in “Madness.” Upbeat fare like “As Far as India” help balance more sombre moments like the title track.

Out of the Oddness is like no album I can remember hearing. It’s truly captivated me. It’s very early in the year to call it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being my favourite release for 2018.

Tom Lee-Richards Charms Me With Amazing New Single “Out of the Oddness”

Aussies have a habit of claiming any talented Kiwi as our own. And when they base themselves here and they’re as amazing as Tom Lee-Richards, I think it’s totally justified. I’ve raved about his previous releases “Madness” and “What Could Otherwise,” and I’m every bit as enamoured with his latest effort, “Out of the Oddness.”

I love Tom’s uniqueness. He has such an original, haunting sound. “Out of the Oddness” is a mesmerising song. I’m well and truly under its spell.

This is the title track from Tom’s first mini LP, which drops on February 23. He’ll kick off an Australian tour on the same day before heading to New Zealand and Europe.

23 February 2018 – Flow Bar, Old Bar
1 March 2018 – Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast
3 March 2018 – Sheoak Shack, Fingal Head
4 March 2018 – Milk Factory, Brisbane
10 March 2018 – Smiths alt, Canberra
11 March 2018 – Birdhouse, Wagga Wagga
16 March 2018 – The Exeter, Adelaide
21 March 2018 – The Gasometer, Melbourne