Tumble Home – Molly Thomas (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

As a writer, it goes without saying that words hold a special interest for me. When I come across new ones, especially those that have also inspired music, it is a special day indeed. The last time it happened, I added the word “Alpenglow” to my vocabulary. Today, I learned, via the album of the same name, that a Tumble Home is a structural design that gives ships additional stability.

Molly Thomas uses the term here metaphorically, and after a period of extended convalescence following a car accident, it took on a deeper meaning. And through persistence and patience, quiet resilience and recovery, not only was Tumble Home born, but she also found herself reevaluating who she is, both as an artist and a person.

This glorious collection of songs is an album with many sonic moods – from the grand orchestral sweeps of “1989” to the rock and roll urges of “Sorry”, and from the delicicy and understatement of the Carole King-esque “Now That Your Here” and dreamy-folk of “Tender Girl” to the widestreen acoustic pop of “Crash”, – it is gloriously adventurous and wonderfully eclectic. Although not too eclectic that it doesn’t hold together as one, in no small part thanks to Thomas’s spellbinding voice.

But, as fantastic as the music is, and it certainly is, it is an album that is at its most rewarding when you consider the lyrics,  the stories won through experience, and intimate insights, as well as realisations and connections, all private and personal but also recognisable and relatable.

This is music made by an artist afforded the time to stop and take stock, reappraise, and reevaluate. The least you can do is listen to what she has to say. You will thank me for suggesting you do so.