Chordblossom
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies
No Result
View All Result
Chordblossom
No Result
View All Result

Thom Southern – Plaza

Stephen Collins by Stephen Collins
May 16, 2022
in Music Reviews
Thom Southern - Photo by Ebony Alexander

Thom Southern - Photo by Ebony Alexander

As someone from Northern Ireland working in England, I spend a lot of time on flights back and forth across the Irish Sea. And it’s hard to beat soaking up a new album while looking down on the world from a window seat and knocking back a lukewarm cappuccino. This week it was Thom Southern’s turn, as I gave his eagerly-anticipated album, Plaza, a spin on the early evening crossing from Belfast to London Gatwick. It was a quieter flight than normal as we took off from an overcast runway and I reached for my headphones, ordered a drink and pressed play.

Thom first rose to prominence nearly a decade ago as one half of sibling duo, Southern, where he – with his sister, Lucy Gaffney – released a self-titled EP of blues-tinged music that propelled the band to a record deal with London-based Marathon Artists and a series of high-profile support slots alongside the likes of Willy Mason, Pete Doherty and Bastille.

The two-piece re-emerged as MMODE in 2017, bringing out their first full-length album together. This project saw Thom’s musical output evolve, adding layers to the band’s sound and the duo taking on a much more experimental approach, incorporating elements of ambient music and psychedelia.

Chordblossom Presents: Gifted - David C Clements | Our Krypton Son | Aine Gordon - Live at the Belfast Empire - 11 September 2025 Chordblossom Presents: Gifted - David C Clements | Our Krypton Son | Aine Gordon - Live at the Belfast Empire - 11 September 2025 Chordblossom Presents: Gifted - David C Clements | Our Krypton Son | Aine Gordon - Live at the Belfast Empire - 11 September 2025
ADVERTISEMENT

Plaza, however, sounds like a fresh start. And in many ways, Thom’s gone back to basics. Ten songs, each packed with a melodic punch. The pulsating drums of opener ‘Tongue Tied’ grab your attention from the outset, and Thom’s vocals ring with longing as he belts the refrain, “Darling you know, you don’t have to go”.

Thom Southern · Tongue Tied

While the music on the record is mostly uplifting in tone, the lyrics don’t shy away from tricky subject matter. ‘She’s So Precious’, the second track, might appear at first like a compliment. It isn’t. Telling the story of someone in a hopeless relationship beginning to realise they’re being taken for granted by their other half, you can almost hear the sense of relief in Thom’s voice as he sings the line, “I’m sketching you out of my life.”

Similar emotions come to the fore in the pounding guitar rock of ‘Hypocritical Shoes’, where he swaggers to the mic to say, “Got up and left, won’t be coming back, not gonna let you stab me in the back.” There’s a gritty core to this album tucked beneath all the singalong melodies.

It’s an album packed with highlights though. ‘I Don’t Remember You’ is a real throwback, reminiscent in style of early Oasis, and if you close your eyes you can almost imagine Liam Gallagher lending his vocals to the chorus, while “I’ll Get Along Just Fine” struts along with fuzzy guitar hooks and has clear echoes of the polished pop-rock of Beck’s album, Colors.

Thom Southern · I Don’t Remember You

Waves of sound in the instrumental ‘Low Tides’ wash over you before making way for the stomping bass, falsetto vocals and soaring strings of ‘What Dreams Are For’. And just when you think you’re drifting away in a hazy, atmospheric soundscape towards the end of the record, you’re hit with the incredible, gut-punch of a closing track, ‘Suzanne I’m Sorry’.

Yes, I’m a little jet-lagged and the clouds are now breaking to reveal a fairly dramatic sunset over London, but even still I’m taken aback by this final song. It’s a belter, but one with a vulnerable heart. The lyrics – while insanely catchy – weigh heavy with remorse, as Thom apologises and begs for one more chance to prove himself – “Just another lie, can you ever forgive me? / Suzanne I’m sorry, can we just start over?” It’s an anthem that seems destined for rowdy festival singalongs.

You don’t even have to wait for festival season to see him in action either, as Thom will be lining up with a whole army of Northern Irish talent including ROE, Wynona Bleach, Travi the Native, Jealous of the Birds, Tour Alaska, Ferna and Girl For Sale at Chordblossom’s 10th Anniversary Party at The Black Box on 27th May 2022. And if Plaza is a sign of things to come from Thom Southern, the sky really is the limit.

Leave a Comment ⁞

Tags: MMODEPlazasliderSouthernStephen CollinsThom Southern
ShareTweetShareShareSendSend
Previous Post

Junk Drawer – The Dust Has Come To Stay

Next Post

Villa In France – 13 May 2022

Related Posts

Junk Drawer - Days of Heaven
Music Reviews

Junk Drawer – Days of Heaven

June 16, 2025
Gifted David C Clements Our Krypton Son Aine Gordon Header Image
News

Chordblossom Presents: GIFTED with David C Clements, Our Krypton Son & Áine Gordon

June 9, 2025

Recent Posts

Junk Drawer - Days of Heaven

Junk Drawer – Days of Heaven

June 16, 2025
Gifted David C Clements Our Krypton Son Aine Gordon Header Image

Chordblossom Presents: GIFTED with David C Clements, Our Krypton Son & Áine Gordon

June 9, 2025
No Fixed Abode

No Fixed Abode: 23

June 9, 2025

Twitter

Instagram

Follow

    The Instagram Access Token is expired, Go to the Customizer > JNews : Social, Like & View > Instagram Feed Setting, to to refresh it.

Spotify Playlist

Fresh Music From Northern Ireland

Mailing List

  • About Chordblossom
  • Kickstart
  • Music Reviews
  • Live Reviews
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Photos
  • Fresh Music From Northern Ireland Playlist
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • Mailing List

© 2020 Chordblossom

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies

© 2020 Chordblossom

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT