Review – Jason Leigh
‘Human Patterns’ by Aaron Thomas was originally released in May of 2024 (after having been recorded as far back as 2022) and given that he has an upcoming show at the Ern Malley on January 24, I have taken the opportunity to rectify not having reviewed the album earlier.
This album is significant in that it is his first full length album in more than a decade since moving from Spain back to Australia (apart from EP ‘Always A Full Moon’ recorded with the some of the same players and released in 2016) and one which he has taken the reigns and had complete artistic control having had three previous albums made overseas.
These songs have been expanded from his long time repertoire into something else entirely, only a few songs remaining little changed from live performances featuring loyal but veritable guitar for hire Django Rowe, and violinist Tori Phillips, who continue on as members of the Aaron Thomas Trio along with former Human Patterns band members bassist Kiah Gossner and drummer Kyrie Anderson among other supplemental players on the album.
While the album opens with the introductory ‘Walk On Water’, a old timey, Appalachian-styled pleasant mix of folky banjo and violin, as this introductory missive fades into reverb, the listener is immediately thrown off guard by what follows. The slow building sinister but wonky horn accompaniment of ‘Money’ which peaks in the opening moments, but then is reprised throughout, announces that we are going somewhere else entirely. Threatening to fall apart at any moment and infused by gypsy-styled world music tropes, this out of character symphony in miniature with a regretful, yearning vocal and lyrics shows just how dark Aaron can get.
Although this initial contrasting coupling might have the tendency to unbalance the listener, as the album progresses it becomes apparent that the sequencing has been thoughtfully considered in order for it to maintain cohesion.
‘Mouth Of The City’ was a well chosen single, the immediacy and the slow build throughout the song further evidence of Aaron’s wide ranging repertoire with a restrained vocal and ghostly, reverbed backing vocals.
‘Like A Stone’ is an about turn with a gentle, paced soulful falsetto and backing vocals and the percussive sound of what could be guiro sounding like crickets makes this song sound like some kind of spontaneously captured field recording.
Similarly, production-wise, ‘Before I Met You’ sounds like the band is in the room with you and makes you want to jump up and join in with the handclaps. This infectious pop and joy is contrasted by the old timey country of ‘Long Lost Friend’ which you could imagine being sung by Roy Orbison. (Coincidentally Aaron’s solo performances of ‘Crying’ are guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye).
The sincere autobiography of the album, most obvious on ‘Bottle Of Wine’, is made even more poignant knowing that this is about his bandmate and partner Tori.
‘Spiritual Man’ is as fine an example as any of Aaron’s compositional skills. If he wanted he could be a successful songwriter for others but fortunately for us he has the performance talent to successfully carry this material.
The final third of the album reinforces the considered sequencing with some of the most interesting songs still remaining. Appropriately ‘My Brother, My Hill” has been left to late in the album, a less immediate, subdued, melancholic piece employing a droning musical backing that is indicative of Aaron’s more experimental side.
The melancholy of ‘Your Light” is heightened by a subtle horn and string accompaniment and ‘We both know (how it feels)’ initially comes across as a low key penultimate song that takes a sinister musical turn before the concluding piano-led “To My Knees”. Aaron teases the listener with the beautiful “I’ve been good” repeated refrain before reigning in the song and there is a slight call back to the horn accompaniment employed earlier on ‘Money’.
‘Human Patterns’, Aaron Thomas’s most realised production to date is a beautiful, accomplished album that rewards and reveals more with repeated listening. Let’s not allow this to become a lost classic.
The pared down Aaron Thomas Trio play an upcoming first show at the Ern Malley on January 24, his first show back after a recent Spanish tour where he has continued to maintain his connections and presence.
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