Thom Sonny Green - High Anxiety

Alt-J drummer Thom Sonny Green’s ‘High Anxiety’ debut is an outlet for every tour anecdote he’s experienced in the past four years. Since Alt-J went stratospheric with 2012’s ‘An Awesome Wave’, they’ve had little to no time off. Sure, Gus Unger-Hamilton has successfully started out his own restaurant, but no member has experienced full (fitz)pleasure outside of band duties.

‘High Anxiety’ channels all those moments Thom felt like he couldn’t cope. It provides snapshots of nights out and new cities, all under the blanket of dark, ominous electronics. Opener ‘Vienna’ lifts from Zomby’s frenetic technique, while ‘Arizona’ could slot easily with Arca’s recent material. Not a single track would work alongside Gus’ keys or Joe Newman’s signature vocals. And while this is a deeply personal record that’s often hard to penetrate, it’s a curious insight into life on the road.

From the outside, touring non-stop looks fun. Being adored night after night, seeing new places, and repeat. But this looping process carries a disconnect. Not knowing what timezone you’re in, forgetting family members’ birthdays ‘Real Friends’-style - it’s a struggle that conquers the best of us. ‘High Anxiety’ serves an individual purpose - to cope with these difficulties - but its highlights can offer comfort in return. ‘Palms’ is a honey-glazed slowburner, ‘Neon Blue’ a hyperactive close. Despite hiding behind the veil of electronic experimentation, Thom Sonny Green has taken a brave step forwards.