The opening track Free begins with mystical arpeggios on a glockenspiel, creating a sense of wonder and searching. The lyrics discuss nostalgia for childhood, a theme that is woven through the album, and appropriate for a family project. Free quickly builds into a pop anthem through the use of a broken synths and a trap beat. The tune features vocals from sister, Esther Ruth, who makes appearances through the whole album, keeping the sound fresh.
Give Me A Sign changes pace with a more intimate sound and eerie backing vocals. The brothers demonstrate their aptitude for weaving classical piano into a more “pop” soundscape. The title track Together is an endearing piece about getting along and enjoying each other’s company. While a little cheesy, the sentiment is very sweet, and the energy is contagious.
A favourite is the more mellow Dreams, which boasts smooth baritone vocals and a soothing piano line. The song builds with slow percussion and creative use of synthesised strings. It would be exciting to see Thomas Brothers experiment with the use of live strings, as in this piece we see the potential for an epic pop ballad.
The year is already looking eventful for Thomas Brothers, as they are taking the stage at Festival One on January 24th and 25th to celebrate the release of their album. I look forward to seeing what else 2020 has in store for this talented group of musicians, and I am excited to see how they develop their sound as time progresses.
The Thomas Brothers really are a band of brothers. Consisting of four siblings, Sam, Josh, Joe and Ben, here’s what you need to know about the brothers in one paragraph:
Samuel - the Go-Getta. Fun fact he studied acting at Australia’s most prestigious drama school and wrote, created and acted in his own feature film Someone To Carry Me. Guess who wrote the score!; Josh - the self-described geek. He’s the one in the band who enjoys computer technology. Sam writes the songs and Josh makes them great! Joe - the Lady’s Favourite. Constantly teased about his good looks, but his personality is his real hidden talent. Fun fact: Joe worked on Planet of the Apes… and Ben - the talented one. Drums, piano, guitar, vocals - he can pick up any instrument and master it. Speaking of pickups, he’s played competitive basketball in America.
The Thomas Brothers have been playing music together since before they could walk. They released their debut self-titled album in 2016, featuring the song I Need To Get Home. They followed up with several singles in 2019, leading up to the release of their sophomore studio album: Together in 2020, featuring the track Sorry.