Tom Minor’s The Manic Phase Captures Soho’s Wild Heart in a Gritty, Melodic Spiral
- Tamara Jenna
- Jun 3
- 2 min read
London-based Tom Minor blurs chaos and charm in his new EP The Manic Phase—a vivid ode to lost nights, half-truths, and existential indie storytelling.
London’s late-night myths and half-mad heroes find a fitting tribute in The Manic Phase, the new EP from Tom Minor—an indie auteur channelling the ghosts of Soho into a finely-balanced mess of melody, madness, and mournful brilliance. Released on 2nd May 2025 and produced by Teaboy Palmer (dubbed “the Phil Spector of Finchley Road”), this isn’t just a record—it’s a microcosmic memoir, scored in power pop, soaked in soul, and held together by duct tape and heart.
At the centre of the narrative is Steve—“Thievin’ Stephen”—a sweet, unpredictable figure known for stealing drinks and hearts in equal measure. “It may not have been his real name,” Minor reflects, “but he introduced himself to us as Steve.” This reimagined tale dances between memory and myth, painting Steve as both folk hero and fleeting ghost of the party scene. It’s not romanticism—it’s recognition.
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Set across London’s nightlife battlegrounds—pubs, clubs, street corners, and Soho Square—the EP expands on Minor’s earlier single Saturday Eats Its Young, placing it back into its native habitat of broken neon, drained pints, and unspoken goodbyes. Through punchy lyrics and full-band arrangements, The Manic Phase feels alive with stories you might have half-heard at 2am and half-forgotten by morning.
Musically, Minor’s palette nods to the grandeur of Britpop and the edge of alt-rock, filtered through the melancholy of The Smiths and the cheeky bounce of early Beatles. It’s as much Village Green Preservation Society as it is This Is Hardcore. Lyrically, it’s existential indie at its best—poetic but pointed, self-aware but not self-indulgent.
From the sardonic grit of the title track to the emotional whiplash of its lyrical spirals—“Recreational use of lithium and lukewarm water / Ain’t that the way to spend your youth”—Minor nails the tonal balance between humour and heartbreak. It’s a theatrical yet real portrayal of modern disarray.
With The Manic Phase, Tom Minor offers more than songs—he offers characters, chaos, and catharsis. And whether you’ve met a Steve, been a Steve, or tried to forget one, this EP invites you back into that manic haze—one pint, one chord, and one bittersweet memory at a time.
Genres: Alternative Rock, Indie (Melodic Pop Rock), Britpop, Power Pop, New Wave, Singer-Songwriter, Garage Rock
Moods: Energetic, Nostalgic, Poetic, Gritty, Melancholic, Satirical, Raw, Reflective, Playful, Existential
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