In the midst of a blistering summer for Tom A Smith, comes the presence of yet more memorable music in the form of EP 3. Unsurprisingly as the title suggests, this is the third collection of tracks that Tom has delivered (although there is a fourth released EP, which contains some excellent piano versions). The only criminal thing about Tom’s musical output is that there is yet to be any vinyl.

EP 3 mops up three recent signature tracks which have not yet made it onto an EP, and in particular the track that has become Tom’s anthem of the year, Weirdo. This one song perhaps encapsulates the essence of Tom A Smith’s music, a real message in the lyrics delivered in a clear way (here, we perhaps have the image of a misfit couple facing the future together against the world), that unique and already distinctive style and vocal, and a tune which is accessible enough for Tom to perform the song on the likes of Sunday Brunch and Blue Peter, and to amass a huge crowd at Glasto.

At last I have something in common with Tom, as I too am the owner of a Blue Peter Badge (mine awarded for a painting when I was 6). Alas for me, that was to be the absolute pinnacle of my artistic career, whereas Tom’s star will just continue to soar.

Also on the EP are the bangers Little Bits which contain some of the most inspiring lyrics on this earth (and based upon Tom’s thoughts on Rocky IV), and a track Tom had kicking around, where a back stage playing session with Miles Kane added a harder strut and a banging chorus to transform the track Me into Like You Do. As is becoming customary for his EP’s, Tom also exposes the bones of one of his songs in the EP collection as a demo, and this time it is actually that foundation track Me.

Once again, Me, shows just how much of the finished single version of Like You Do existed in that demo. Much of Like You Do had already formed in Tom’s mind even before the singalong “Like You Do” element was created.

Me without the adornments has more of a raw country Johnny Cash feel to it. Chewing tobacco was made for this tune. I can see that Me would have been an early live favourite, but that new chorus adds the buzz and the extra arrangement turns Me into that swingy, gothic monster single. Clark Kent becomes Superman.

Also new for the EP is track The Worst Is Yet To Come. Lyrically, this almost feels like the antithesis to Little Bits, where perhaps despite that hard work the result might not come through, and there is loss to mourn. The tune is a a steady paced ballad that demands you fall silent and take in that sense of special raw emotion and heartfelt delivery.

Tom is swallowed punch drunk into this tune and his head is reeling with the realisation and the shock; life sometimes isn’t fair. There is a tense bitter tears power here. Anyone thinking that EP3 had already shown its big guns in the sunshine need to revisit that idea. Those new tracks fire a punch too.

The final track is a cover of Swedish House Mafia’s Don’t You Worry Child. I’ve played this track a few times, and the original now just sounds weirdly safe and polished, a bit like a lift music version of a Tom A Smith classic. Tom gives the track a very raw and heartfelt vibe, and steals the song from its owner (haha, I even checked the song writing credits to make sure a pre-teen Tom hadn’t written it).

So EP 3 continues the high quality bar from the first 2 Tom A Smith EP’s and continues both to show how diverse Tom’s music and influences are, but is also successful in cementing a distinct tone and style to Tom’s music. Smith’s music is totally accessible, and yet there’s solid meat on those bones, thought provoking lyrics, and an interesting creative twist and style to make any song his.

* words by Tiggerligger

* images from Tom A Smith’s social media