“I’m afraid but I see/ That every little fire is not the end of me.”
Tom Iansek (Big Scary, No Mono) has been releasing music under #1 Dads – his solo moniker – since 2011, which predates him becoming an actual dad (he’s now the father of two).
Every Little Fire sparked from a suite of gentle piano songs Iansek wrote during his lockdown-related “piano renaissance”. Keen to avoid self-censoring during this album’s creation, Iansek also tapped into his Ennio Morricone fandom.
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“It’s only ever been you…” – talk about #couplegoals! Already Something, a tribute to Iansek’s “partner of many years”, is further enhanced by Gus Rigby’s buoyant sax solo, which sounds like how true love feels.
Iansek’s vocal performances land like welcome caresses, underscored by sumptuous string arrangements. His wistful whistling refrains (see: Every Time and Excuses – a cruisy ode to rumination) are best appreciated in a seated position, softly swaying from side to side with your eyes closed. Every Time’s whistling melody is echoed by vocalising – so beautiful it hurts.
Built from a rhythmic, circular riff that speeds up to double-time and then oscillates between both tempos, self-described “strange banger” Tonight, Alive drips with urgency – “I need to stay/ Tonight!”
Recorded in one unedited take, On A Winter’s Day features Iansek and Georgia Potter’s simpatico singing.
Listening to Every Little Fire calms the nervous system while stirring the soul. The perfect back-pocket tool.
LABEL: PIEATER
RELEASE: 16 OCT
