Thomas J Marchant - Say No to Racism and Fascism

Hear The Track Here

Erstwhile Antennahead Thomas J Marchant (as you may have guessed) is pretty keen when it comes to getting on my review list; he should get an award for the amount of times he has been first in the queue, let alone anything else. It's a good job then that I have a fondness for this musicians work, although that certainly wasn't always so; especially the more experimental Station For Imitation he went through for a while there at the beginning. Personally, I applaud Thomas for having the courage not only to change his style but - also rightly - to put his own true name to the product. It shows his growing maturity as a seasoned (and dedicated) musician with a singularly appealing musical vision.

Especially if you like a bit 'o retro...

As you know, I'm a right crusty old geezer so I am bound to like something that harks back to the beginnings of the rock music scene. Thomas's output since he changed his style has veered from mid to late 50's to 1960's acoustic troubadour style in the last few releases, most of which I have had extremely nice things to say about them. Where I value him most, it has to be said, is as a plain, unadorned songwriter, coupled with his own inimitable style on delivering those songs. Which is probably a good thing because I think Say No to Wotsit and Wotsit is probably the most stripped down I have ever heard this man, and he's been pretty close before...

As a consequence, the track comes off in a very early Bob Dylan stylee (except with that English twist to it) and as such probably won't appeal much outside of devotees of this man's particular journey through music. So, what you ultimately get is guitar and vocals and a man with a story to tell. There is more than a touch of Pete Shelley (of The Buzzcocks) about the vocals and that's something I have mentioned with this artist before, and it surprisingly works a treat - one of the highlights of this track certainly, but having said that there isn't a lot else anyway. Not, to my mind, one of his standout tracks but interesting if you've been following this artist.

Highly Recommended Acoustic alternative.