Tom Bailey’s long awaited debut solo album, Science Fiction, is released via Pledge Music. Whilst Tom has been prolific in the genres of dub, world music and audio visual projects over the last two decades this is the Thompson Twins front man’s first ‘pop’ record since Babble’s 1996 release Ether...

It's been 27 years since the release of the Thompson Twins's eighth and final album Queer, and now founder member and front man Tom Bailey releases his debut solo album, Science Fiction.

Bailey's vocals are unmistakable and in many ways this feels like a modern Thompson Twins album. There's an '80s vibe running throughout Science Fiction, but it's a more mature album which has a timeless quality. The LP contains 10 new songs (43 min, 46 sec) and has been carefully structured so that the first few tracks will feel familiar to those that are Thompson Twins fans, before slowly shifting in tone and flavour to finally transform into something a little different.

I don't know if it was planned that way, but on reflection it seems like Bailey lures you in with familiar material before slowly changing the material to present you with his new sound. The shift is so gradual, from track to track, that you probably wouldn't even spot it unless you were looking out for it.

I have to single out 'What Kind of World' as the most instantly accessible track. It's catchy and engaging and certainly the album's highlight for me.

Beautifully produced, impressively diverse. Why are you still reading this? Go and buy it!

10

Nick Smithson