Originally born as a university project, ‘Passing Craze’ has now bloomed into a long and evocative album, slightly cryptic and mysterious, yet always nuanced and meaningful. From a sonic standpoint, we are into weirdly eclectic territories, with a troubadour-powered acoustic skeleton overcharged by psychedelic productions and an expanded sonic palette. The listening experience is quite disorienting at times, and we suggest not trying to make sense of it. ‘Passing Craze’ exists in its own lyrical continuum, a space that’s populated with Tom Emlyn’s over-arching artistry and Evan Colett’s sensible production.
While the two British creative play together in a rock band, Rainyday Rainbow, ‘Passing Craze’ was specifically initiated by Colett, seeking to record an album for his university production course. Emlyn came to the rescue, offering songs and a cohesive vision, a process that has now evolved into a partly unexpected record, yet one that we highly welcome.
Given the peculiar and sparse origin story that propels the record, it’s interesting to note the varied and brooding lyrical matter that makes it so dreamy and relatable. After all, the songs draw from different eras, periods, and moods, simply reflecting Tom Emlyn’s evolving songwriting identity through the years. As we are told: “The lyrics started to tell their own story; a story of dreams, struggle, delusion, failure, and putting the pieces back together.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Passing Craze’ now: