Aaron Thomas - “Mouth of the City”
Photo by Lucy Spartalis
Adelaide-based singer-songwriter Aaron Thomas has just released the haunting indie rock track “Mouth of the City.”
“Mouth of the City” is founded on reflective acoustic rhythm guitar. The song often dies back to these tones, which provide it with a sense of intimacy. A slow drum groove soon joins, helping to propel the song forward. Weaving electric guitar helps to flesh out the melody, with shimmering, moody tones, whilst bass pulses meditatively underneath.
The song has a lush sense of ebb and flow, thanks to the many pulsing builds led by the drums. These sections help heighten the sense of tension and are tinged with a melancholic vibe that is reminiscent of Radiohead. One of the highlights is the expressive electric guitar solo that exudes a raw and gritty vibe, satisfyingly pushed into reverb in the odd place, creating a sense of immersive depth and space.
As “Mouth of the City” reaches its crescendo, orchestral elements darkly pulse, giving a sense of intensity while a lead guitar riffs with a raw almost sour sense of feeling. The lead vocals of Thomas are delivered with a soulful and reflective sense of emotion. Hauntingly melancholic backing vocals that, again, are reminiscent of Radiohead support throughout. These layers have a striking, almost spiritual vibe with undercurrents of anxiety.
About the track, Thomas adds: “The song is about how the world you inhabit touches your mind and influences your behaviour. I fear being in a boring world or safe place and having my spirit and art knocked out of me.”
“Mouth of the City” arrives with the announcement of Thomas’ album, Human Patterns, set to be released on Friday, May 17th.