There’s a lot to be said for a straightforward approach to making music. There are those who like to throw in curveballs and take as many twists and turns as possible when writing material, but the Route One approach works too. In the case of Will Phillips – The Artist Formerly Known As Little Loud – it works almost perfectly. While this technically can’t be called a debut EP, as he’d been around for a while before assuming the Tourist moniker and has had a while to hone his craft, it is nonetheless a dazzling opening salvo that proves that not only has Phillips still got it, but also that he’s surpassed much of his previous work.
A while ago, around the end of January, we posted the lead track from the EP, Placid Acid. We were hoping, back then, that the track, which was infectious and endlessly melodic, would be indicative of the sound the EP would have. As it turns out, it is: very much so. The other three tracks (we also featured Jupiter last month) are cut from similar cloth: this is music made to lift spirits and induce smiles. There can never be too much of that in the world, especially as we live in such depressing times these days, but if it’s an escape you’re looking for, then these songs deliver in spades.
The EP’s being released as a 7″ (containing the two tracks we featured), and also as a digital EP, with two extra cuts. It’s difficult to pick out the strongest material on the EP, as each part has its merits, and is just as enjoyable and thrilling as the others. They are all unashamedly ‘big’-sounding – not that Phillips would have any trouble getting them across even if they were more subdued – each packing in a multitude of insistent hooks, which in turn are changed and tweaked; as an example, on closer Fires, the synth line is most prominent throughout the track, but it’s underpinned by a number of different basslines as things progress. These are tracks not content to rest on their laurels: melodies are pushed to the point of oblivion, and the EP’s 18-minute running time seems to fly by as more and more new ideas are thrown into the mix.
These tracks can very easily get into one’s head: the pop sensibilities audible on Forgive (which builds from a single line of melody into multiple ones, all harmonising beautifully with each other) mark it out as the most immediate on the EP, and that’s saying something considering how instant the debut Tourist release is. You might not yet know Will Phillips, but you’ll be glad to have Tourist in your life.
Tourist’s debut EP is out today and available to stream below; purchase the 7″ or digital version (in a variety of formats) on Bandcamp.
