We Have Sound - Tom Vek > Reviews > What the Vek is This?!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it rate alongside the competition	Good
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Genre - crossing, experimental .
Disadvantages:	Aurally challenging in places .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Tom Vek is a 24 year old 'multi-instrumentalist' from London brought up listening to and playing bass with his rhythm and blues guitarist father. Vek went on to play bass and drums in various rock bands before turning to producing electro-funk which in doing so led him to his current recording label, Tummy Touch Records. Since signing this deal, Vek's sound has evolved to become more rock/punk-edged, something the label, although dance-based were excited by and have been more than happy to promote. 'We Have Sound' is the result of this coupling.

In Tom Vek the rock crowd and the dance crowd may have a meeting of minds. Vek's music brings electronica and lo-fi rock in equal measures and fuses it together to produce a sound that is as unique as it is exciting. Slipping from one genre of music to the next, Vek's sound is eclectic to say the least and lyrically both incisive and absurd at the same time. Comparisons have been drawn with Beck and LCD Soundsystem, but the genre-crossing nature of Vek's music makes it had to classify since it sounds like many things and nothing else all at once.

Despite the electronica influence, Vek's music is not mechanically produced or sampled. All instruments are recorded by Vek in a one-man-band style and mixed together to various effect. However, this has made it easier for Vek to convey his music in a live environment, and the album has been toured with a group of musicians, rather than Vek using backing tracks whilst on stage. This again will appeal to the rock crowd, whilst being refreshing for those coming to Vek's music from a dance background.

'We Have Sound' kicks off with the latest single, 'C-C (You Set the Fire in Me)', an infectious, funk-fused track, that sees Vek at his best, and possibly most accessible. It's synth and drum heavy and guaranteed to get some part of you moving! Vek's vocals sit jauntily against this, since the words are kind of drawled lazily, yet this is Vek in one of his more animated moments! Vek is nothing if not vocally distinct and the best word I have heard to describe his vocal style is 'deadpan'. Indeed there is some degree of amusement in hearing him slur the words 'You set the fire in me, It's like I've learned how to breath' with about as much enthusiasm as a moody teenager on a Pontins holiday. But it adds to the eclecticism of it all.

From the opening track the play list moves to 'I Ain't Saying My Goodbyes'. Regular viewers of MTV2 and the alternative music channels should be very familiar with this tune as it received heavy-duty rotation when it was released earlier this year. The opening 'tinny' electro guitar chords set the sinister undertone for the rest of this track, which is essentially a lament about a relationship. The tune is frantic and energetic, but in more of a rock vein than other tracks on the album and possibly the most commercial-sounding of Vek's releases.

In 'The Lower the Sun' the comparisons with Beck become obvious. It's reminiscent of the work Mr Hanson was putting out around his 'Oderlay' era, only perhaps not as well polished. In this track there is at least some familiarity and safe-ground as Vek's music can be pinned down to a genre and comparisons can be drawn, but unfortunately it's far from being the highlight of the album.

One of the strongest tunes in my opinion is 'Nothing But Green Lights', a song that twists and turns, rises and falls and reminds me strongly of work by Underworld in the 'Born Slippy' vein. The beat and riff are strong and infectious and I think it is in this track that Vek gets the electro/rock fusion just right. I could imagine this tune being played in a variety of clubs on a variety of 'scenes' and blending in seamlessly.

Other notable highlights of the album are the single 'If You Want', 'A Little Word in Your Ear' and 'On the Road'. The latter is interesting purely from a lyrical perspective. Vek claims that the lyrics are always the part of a song that he writes last, and that the process is somewhat organic; Vek tends to take an idea and run with it, and nowhere is that more evident than in this track. The melody and theme are on the whole repetitive, but verse by verse, Vek twists the metaphor he has struck upon and grows and develops it, thus turning what would be a dull track by comparison to others on the album into something quite fascinating as you listen to hear what comes next.

Tom Vek is a breath of fresh air in the current music climate where things have again begun to become very polarised and compartmentalised. Vek isn't afraid to draw on different influences and use them creatively and with imagination. I doubt Vek will ever appeal to the masses, and he is likely to remain an underground force whilst his music is in this vein. But if you're looking for something a little different, and are open-minded towards music, Tom Vek is a gem waiting to be discovered.

'We Have Sound' is available to buy from:

www.101cd.com priced £7.99

and

www.hmv.co.uk also priced £7.99

For more info about Tom Vek and his music, take a look at his website:

www.tomvek.tv

Tom Vek is also headlining a tour this autumn, and for those of you who are interested in seeing this experimental artist perform his work live, tickets can be purchased from:

www.ticketweb.co.uk

I might just see you there!

Thanks for reading :o)

 

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