
Tommy: 4000 Years
By Rachel Fallon
Well, what a pleasant surprise when this work of art landed on my desk! Having heard a lot about Tommy's live performances through the musical grapevine, I had already added them to my must see list, and this debut album certainly reinforces that intent. The very tight instrumentation takes you on a journey through a subtle variety of genres in a mixture of uplifting hip shakers to thought provoking ballads, all with a distinct Aotearoa and wholesome folk-roots vibe. Lead singer Tommy Benefield, who has a distinctive and expressive voice, has written the main body of the work. He also produced most of the tracks along with drummer AJ Hickling and Mike Gibson, who both share engineering credits. Recording was at Inca Studios in their home town of Wellington. Fellow Wellyite Hollie Smith contributes her usual heart skipping, soulful vocals. The cardboard sleeve and cover art work by Tom Henry deserve a mention too, beautifully reflecting the style of the album in its organic colouring and simplicity.
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