Tap Tap – On My Way

Tap Tap

There’s something about a raw and grainy, stripped down indie-rock album that leaves us with nothing but longing for sunshine and cheer. Tap Tap’s second album, On My Way (also the title of a song from debut album Lanzafame), is honest and simple. There’s nothing too shiny, only the occasional clamour of a tambourine.

Opening track ‘Autumn and Tea’ is wistfully beautiful, as Thomas Sanders croons “just go back to sleep, go back to your dreams.” And ‘Codeine,’ a pseudo love ballad for the drug, elicits just what codeine is prone to cause: a drowsy, euphoric-like state. While the music/drug pairing is a bit of a cliché, the affectionate tone in which Sanders sings “my codeine, stay near to me” makes us almost forget that he isn’t singing about a person.

‘Half Moon Street’ is full of movement and infectious hooks, and is one of the most memorable and emotional tracks on the album. Sanders’ soft vocals get a workout, as they belt out “my thoughts are tearing each other apart” over someone he seems to care for, but has nothing in common with. Being “tongue-tied” and feeling “stupid” are emotions we can all recognize, and can certainly relate to the song.

We’ll be honest, the remainder of the album does blend together a bit—but not necessarily in a bad way. Perhaps this is why On My Way is such a blissful collection of songs to listen to straight through, especially as the album runs only a little longer than half an hour.

And favorite line of the album goes to ‘Star Crossed Idiots’: “fur coats, and boats, and jewels, I would steal them all for you.” Straightforward, generous, and rolls right off the tongue.

On My Way is a step up from Lanzafame, maintaining the simplicity but filled with more heart and character. This album is further proof that Tap Tap, a solo project of Sanders (of Pete & The Pirates), is worthy of its own recognition.

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