Thomas Cohen: Bloom Forever
Subscribe
X

Get the latest from Beat

Thomas Cohen: Bloom Forever

thomascohen.jpg

First turning heads as the frontman of the art rock band S.C.U.M, Thomas Cohen has always been an enigmatic performer. Cohen’s appeal was palpable and when the band split in 2011 a solo career was an obvious decision. Bloom Forever is scarred by the tragic death of Cohen’s wife Peaches Geldof. But while it serves as an outlet for Cohen to come to terms with this loss, the record’s anchored in a strong sense of optimism and renewal. 

Cohen’s music has matured in the time between S.C.U.M and his latest project, with Bloom Forever expanding his sound to incorporate elements of lounge and country along with the frequent grandness of a piano. With tracks sequenced in chronological order, the album opens with Honeymoon. It conveys innocent longing in its romantic sentiment, with the introduction of a saxophone midway the song a welcome surprise.

The title track was written about the birth of Cohen’s second son, and it’s led by a downtempo melody that glides at a relaxed pace before reaching an instrumental crescendo featuring a gloriously wailing guitar. Morning Fall is an upbeat tale about watching the day emerge from night, and Hazy Shades continues with a similar motif, referring to the sun as a symbol of hope and rebirth. Country Home explicitly comments on Geldof’s passing and the difficulty of living life in the absence of a loved one. Ending with the repeated refrain, “You couldn’t make it through,” it’s a heart-wrenching depiction of Cohen’s pain.

Bloom Forever chronicles a young man’s transition from band leader to solo artist, exploring his identity and the process of grief through an assortment of sounds and themes. Cohen never appears vulnerable or overwhelmed by sadness, but rather he carries himself with a self-assuredness that suggests making this album has helped him adjust to his new life. 

BY HOLLY PEREIRA