Italian artist Tomm delivers a rock-minded mystique throughout the concept album ATLAS, succeeding in its aim to “find a personal take on the desert rock genre.” “ATLAS is the part of the self that makes you believe you’re the enemy,” the artist continues. “The Mr. Hyde that awakens in you. But in the end Dr. Jekyll always comes back. You regain consciousness, you apologize, you promise to do better.”
The aforementioned “Mr. Hyde” kickstarts the album with a riveting, theatrical pull. Twangy guitars and piano pulses drive into an eerie vocal styling. A murky bass line lingers underneath, with post-punk hints. An uptick in percussive energy coincides with trickling guitar melodics, compelling into a ghostly wordless vocal infusion. “Mr. Hyde” is a stylishly commencing success.
In between “Mr. Hyde” and the moody, nocturnal pop of “Dr. Jekyll,” the album succeeds in a range of immersion — from the buzzing psych-rock energy of “Whatever” to the wailing guitar suaveness within “It’s Just Blood.” Fusing atmospheric synths and soaring guitar lines alike, ATLAS shows an abundance of melodic and aesthetical charm.
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“Mr. Hyde” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of September 2023’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
