To be sombre is a trait of the romantic poet but so is ecstasy. The prophetic ‘Moodswings’ E.P sees cocoon to butterfly Singer/Producer/Musician/Arranger Jerome Thomas, hurtling us through dark matter as the pendulum, at times guillotine, swings from enlightenment to fear.

To date, Jerome has released a 5 track E.P Conversations and a series of evolutionary singles. He has performed on Colors Berlin, and conducted a 7-piece band who have played festivals and concerts across the country, including the Jazz Cafe. Amidst all of this he has also managed to orchestrate this incredible 9 track project.

What will strike you first is the Francis Bacon inspired artwork, courtesy of largely unknown but startlingly relevant graphic designer Eli-xr, who is also responsible for the artwork on previous singles ‘Stranger’ and ‘1989/Didn’t Know’. This intensely considered pre-cursor leads us to track one, a pensive monologue from Jerome outlining the ad nauseam experience of cascading through the emotional spectrum. We plunge straight into ‘Bruises’ a trip hop tragedy about severing ties with a lover. Back UP into most recent single ‘Lovesick’, an ode to the violent butterflies that taunt the sensitive when in the presence of someone you admire. Cascading gently down into ‘The 1’ a moment of bliss in this metaphorical cycle of moods, kissed with additional organ from jazz aficionado Fr1th, this track is certainly a landmark point in the project for me. But as with the unruly nature of mood, we drop violently further, landing at ‘Loaded’ featuring Serious Klein which is a window into the true private pressures this artist is under.

“I’ve got a whole tragedy of my own”

Lifted towards another situation, jazz ballad ‘Safe’ is an open letter honouring a genuine friend and lingers at the point of balance leading into ‘Water’ which samples the classic ‘Dreamflower’ break, yet subtly flips it to unrecognisable proportions. Cast back to the doldrums we enter ‘Belongs To’ my personal favourite on the album, produced by Maxwell Owin (if you don’t know get to know). It sounds like sand slipping through an hourglass, only the sand is your grip on your lover, and the song is your wide eyed horror at your security being stolen.

Whilst to my ears this project has clear connotations of the end of a relationship - outlined in final track ‘Route of Escape’ the telling to a beautiful caged bird that he can offer a route of escape from an undeserving lover, this entire E.P comprises many concepts, and will require many stoned listens to experience fully. However, the musical landscape is designed for just that, and I simply cannot wait for the pendulum to swing back to ‘Moodwings - part two’.

Jerome and his Foechestra headline The Jazz Cafe on the 27th of February, then to embark on a UK tour. Tickets are available at Jeromethomasfoe.co - I’ll see you there :)

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