David Thomas - The Sound of The Sand (1981)
David Thomas is most well known as the enigmatic lead singer of Pere Ubu, but has sadly never received much acclaim for his own solo albums. Despite being quite difficult to locate, many of his recordings include some of the most interesting experiments in rock composition. Thomas’ major contribution to rock music is the way in which he effortlessly alternates between the playful and the nightmarish, and The Sound of The Sand sees his absurd musical ideas come to brilliant fruition.
Sometimes frightening, sometimes heartfelt, and sometimes sincerely deranged, the album leaps around with all the intensity of a hyperventilating child. The Birds Are a Good Idea, Crickets In The Flats, and Happy To See You are songs where Thomas’ enthusiasm borders on mild schizophrenia. Comparatively, tracks like Sound of the Sand and The New Atom Mine are melancholy odes to loneliness and nostalgia that envelope the listener in whimsy.
It all comes to a dazzling peak with the absurdist ear-shredding arrangement Crush This Horn Part Two, and the cathartic climax of Man’s Best Friend. It might seem a difficult listen at first, but you have to persevere to claim the reward. Despite its childish, maniacal, and frighteningly off-kilter pretences, The Sound of The Sand is a mysterious album that reveals its beauty with patience.
- Jim Harris
