UK rapper Tom Penny delves into vices, addiction, darkness and love on his powerful new album Both Sides Of The Coin
Thoughtful, instrospective songwriting and the hard-hitting and compelling nature of his sound are two things that have become a staple of Tom Penny, a rising UK rapper and producer who has an innate ability to turn his life experiences and hardships into these immersive and powerful tracks, highlighting his capabilities and appeal as an artist. The release of his new third album Both Sides Of The Coin sees the artist continue to build on that appeal, hitting as hard and resonating as profoundly as ever before on an engrossing collection of tracks that continue to articulate his story.
The new album kicks off with ‘Spiral of Fumes’, and the first thing that you notice is the slickness and polish that goes into the production and tone of the album, with the artist’s fast-paced and matter-of-fact delivery anchored by a creative and engrossing palette of sounds that accompany them. The track feels like a really stellar introduction to the themes and style of the album, with the artist candidly telling his story and establishing his appeal while a melodic and memorable soundscape keeps you intrigued and engaged throughout.
‘Everything or Nothing’ feels a bit harder edged and dynamic stylistically, with the artist taking a more forceful approach to his delivery to up the stakes and bring the intensity, whereas ‘My Heart goes the opposite way and showcases a more considered side to his sound, complete with punchy, metronomic rhythms and a gorgeously included melodic chorus. The track was a single released ahead of time from the artist and has crossover appeal and breakout success written all over it.
Another single from the album comes in the form of ‘Fiya Fiya’, an expansive and varied release that sees the artist teaming up with artists Pr1, Kxng, and J48Music to craft something that feels unlike anything else on the album. The darker tone of the beats and the conflicting flows and styles of the artists makes for an engrossing track that keeps you on your toes throughout and hanging on every word of the collective of artists.
The artist takes on a larger and more bombastic sound on ‘Cigarettes & Whiskey’, taking on a more braggadocious and brash approach as he delves into his vices and the hold that they have over him and the push and pull of life dealing with addiction. This makes for a really interesting dynamic that feels conflicting throughout, with an underlying darkness permeating what seems to be a blissed out and happy track on the surface, echoing the reality of life with these issues in a way.
‘Molly’s Song Pt. 2’ is a continuation of a track that the artist released on his 2021 album Identity Crisis, while less dark than its predecessor in terms of its sound and style, the track’s heavily narrative-heavy style still has an intensity to it due to the stakes and volatility of this on-off relationship that the artist is exploring, whether that relationship is one with a person or something altogether more destructive and dangerous.
Things slow down on tracks like ‘Lost At Sea’ and ‘End of the Road’, and make for these really captivating moments that allow the artist’s thoughtful writing and earnest storytelling really get to shine. These themes of feeling lost and not sure where to turn seem to pop up a variety of times throughout the album, and this feeling of solidarity and not being on your own, turning dark moments and struggles into something inspiring and therapeutic feels powerful and potent throughout these tracks.
The emotional crux of the album seems to come on ‘Both Sides Of The Coin’, the album’s title track and most powerful moment, in some part due to an incredible vocal feature from Tanya Matthews and a gorgeous blend of pianos and beats that feels inspired. Tom’s vocal performance here feels packed full of drive and intensity, delving into themes like anxiety, personal demons, and the fights that we all find ourselves in, contrasting these with happier moments to tell the artist’s absorbing and moving story that feels as nuanced and authentic as anything you’ll hear this year.
There are a plethora of highlights throughout this album, and a tonne of compelling moments that will stop you in your tracks and make you think and connect with the music. From the more hard-hitting and impactful moments to some of the softer and more pensive ones, everything here feels deeply thoughtful, worthy of delving into and hearing the artist’s story, the lessons that he’s taken from it and the issues and vulnerabilities that make him human and real. It makes for a one-of-a-kind listening experience that only Tom Penny could have provided, and something that feels like was important to write for him in a personal sense as it was to release it out into the world.
