Tom Sharkett / 25 / Test Pressing

Tom Sharkett is the guitarist with jangly, vibrant, Mancunian, indie-rock 5-piece W. H. Lung. His debut solo EP, “25”, signed to Test Pressing, finds him exploring a more synth-pop side, and enlisting vocal assistance from Hong Kong native Eva Liu aka Mui Zyu. The productions are definitely 80s flavoured, but done in a modern manner, with a more timeless feel. The music has its fair share of deft drum and arpeggio programming, while the songs’ personal / honest lyrics tackle the tricky course of a changing relationship. Moving from romance’s first flush through disappointment and a sense of distance setting in. Two of the numbers seem to track the end. Mui Zyu leads “Sleepwalk”, sounding a little breathless and heartbroken, against a backdrop that could be the score for some coastal drive cruising. The need to keep moving with no destination in mind. “I’ll Call If I Want You” hits like the male response / reply. Sharkett’s confessions / explanations set to whistling keys and…