Thomas White - Yalla!

‘Yalla!’ is the third solo album from Electric Soft Parade’s Thomas White and it sees the Brighton singer songwriter in reflective and meditative form. It was written and recorded over the course of a two week holiday in the Egyptian town of Dahab and, indeed, the title is Egyptian for the phrase “Let’s go.” The warm, stifling desert of Egypt may seem a rather incongruous location for an English songwriter to record, but the idyllic imagery of the surrounding landscape provides a perfect fit for an album full of contemplative reflection.

The record is completely acoustic and the soft understated sound complements White’s hushed vocals. The sound is, for the most part, folksy and simple; its traditionally English folk sound and delicate acoustic guitar evokes clear comparisons with Nick Drake. Where ‘Yalla!’ really excels is lyrically and, in particularly, White’s use of imagery. Elemental imagery is used throughout and there are innumerable references to the sea, the sun and the weather; ‘All The Fallen Leaves’ has a lovely air of wistful melancholy as White describes the Egyptian sun which “beats down on desert ground.’

Despite his picturesque surroundings, however, White longs for home and Brighton’s distinctly more drab skies “I miss Brighton town, cold, wet and brown”. The theme of pining for home is repeated throughout these songs as, despite being on the other side of the world in an idyllic paradise, most of these songs are about Brighton and White’s feelings about his hometown, it all makes for a rather beguiling and intriguing juxtaposition.

The record works best when the songs are simple and direct; the lilting chorus of the appositely named ‘I’ve Seen The Sunshine’ is a particularly lovely moment. However, there are a few too many baroque folk diversions with the rather ponderous ‘Lungful Of Air’, and the aimless meandering melody of ‘Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Halls’ noteable low points. There is no doubting White’s ability to make beautifully crafted melodic pop though and when he is at his best, on the free-wheeling ‘The Heavy Sunshine Sound’ it is an especially joyful and exuberant sound.

Final track ‘The English Sargasso’ is perhaps the most impressive piece here as, over the course of its 6 minutes of pastoral folk, White reminisces about absent friends back home, it’s all desperately sad but strangely uplifting at the same time, and that is also the feeling you are left with after listening to this curious but beguiling album.