Tom Lumley & The Brave Invasion

Tom Lumley & The Brave Liaison - Sign of the Times

The Cambridge four piece, recently released their debut EP ‘Sign of the Times’ in April. Released via Fort Records, each song attempts to raise awareness of mental health problems. As this is Mental Health Awareness week, we saw it only fitting to review his EP.

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There is a huge sway of material of late, that covers mental health. Some deliver with integrity but no quality, and vice-a-versa. Step forward the song writing partnership of Tom Lumley and Jake Day.

Musically, they have given indie-rock its clout back. Ruthlessly vital and adrenaline pumped, audiences are going to be swaying in one unified sweat ridden mess to this set of songs, when they can again.

‘New York Paranoia’ is the sound of a new epoch of teenagers fronting up to its detractors. The spikiness of the verses melts, into the best guitar solo in a generation. Loaded with anxiety, but, oozing with a ferocious melody that cannot be denied.

‘Shrink’, is a full throttle joyride that puts The Strokes and Miles Kane in their back pocket. As the protagonist’s life tumbles into disarray, the death defying guitars breathe adrenaline and euphoria back into the soul.

‘Casual’ and ‘Let Go’ may not land in the same way but, they frame the discourse with magnitude it deserves.

No one knows when gigs will return but, we know where we’re going first.

*Image courtesy of Sam J. Lance