Released: September 2
Tom Chaplin documents his personal journey through the trials and tribulations of a turbulent two years on his latest solo album ‘Midpoint’.
Born off the back of Keane’s 2019 ‘Cause and Effect’ tour, which was derailed due to the pandemic, the deeply personal set sees Tom reflect on the state of the world and his place amid the chaos around him, for his most introspective body of work yet.
Recorded over a six week period at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Bath and Paul Epworth’s The Church in North London, the collection draws on the warmth of his 2016 solo debut ‘The Wave’ while leaving the singer-songwriter exposed in a sparse instrumental that places his distinctive, impassioned vocal front and centre.
“I was like, ‘Wow, these are bare compared to what I’m used to’,” Tom admits of his new music.. “And I did find it frightening because with Keane records there’s so much layering to thicken things up and fill up the spaces. But this is a sparse record.”
What the album lacks in studio trickery it makes up for in substance, with pre-release singles Midpoint and Gravitational best exemplifying the range of tracks on offer: brooding ballads permeated with mid-tempo, easy-listening moments.
Opener All Fall Down kicks off with a jazz influenced piano solo, with the piano ballad just one example of Tom’s flawless vocal and exceptional range that shines throughout his latest offering.
Scattered among the set are moments of brilliance; Stars Align is one of the strongest recordings on offer that sees him ‘taking back the moment’, while the layered keys and choral vocals on It’s Over lift the track immeasurably.
It’s a heavy listen and one that comes full circle on Overshoot, the closing piano ballad that sees him search for the positive in whatever situation life throws his way – and perhaps ‘Midpoint’ is a documentation of his journey to reaching that realisation.
“There’s space for something nuanced that explores a part of life that everyone goes through,” Tom muses. “If I can get some of that across and it can resonate with something people are feeling in their lives – well, I’d be more than happy with that.”
Fans of Keane and even Tom’s earlier records beware – ‘Midpoint’ is a different beast altogether. But in each of the tracks is a part of the musician who, having reached his own mid-point, lays himself bare on a sensational set that may just be his masterpiece.
‘Midpoint’ is available now.
