Thomas Charlie Pedersen Employees Must Wash Hands Review by Gary Hill
I have previously reviewed a couple other sets from Thomas Charlie Pederson. I have also reviewed his band Vinyl Floor. As good as the previous solo discs from him were, this is the best of the bunch, and it’s not even close. This is just so strong. There is nothing weak here. It lands in a territory between pop rock, alternative, Bealtes like stuff and even prog. I just love this album.
This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2025 Volume 1. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2025.
Track by Track Review
Yesterdays And Silly Ways
This is bouncy and fun. It’s a pop styled piece of music.
Oh, Whatever
This slow moving melodic number is classy.
Slow Passage
There are old time rock and roll elements on this tune. It’s another fun one.
Rains Of Saturn
Piano and vocals make up the arrangement on this. There are some soundbites that showcase a space launch. This is slow moving, balladic and potent. In fact, it’s one of my favorite tunes here. Some symphonic instrumentation is added to the mix later as augmentation.
Coarse Rasp Of Yore
Staying in more of a balladic zone, this is guitar based. It has some hints of Beatles sound in some ways. It’s very much in line with 1970s rock music.
Mass In D Minor
This is a very alternative rock based piece. It has so much drama and style.
Fiddler And The Travesty
An evocative and powerful piano based balladic number, this is so strong. It has some classical strings augmenting the arrangement.
You Can’t Have It Both Ways
Acoustic guitar based, this is very much a mellow prog song. That vibe is brought home both via some keyboards and a rich vocal arrangement. It’s also made clear from just the general sound of the tune. This is one of the highlights of the set for me.
Sooner Than You Think
This is a driving hard rocking tune with a lot of alternative angles built into it.
Tremble And Reel
Piano gets things going here. That serves as the backdrop for the vocals. This one is rather proggy. There are some symphonic strings in the mix here.
Night Of Stars
With acoustic guitar at its heart, this is another that feels a little like a prog ballad. It’s also another winner.
Organ Prayer
The music here is delivered on organ. You probably figured that out, right? This is a nice bit of variety and a classy piece of music. It’s not one of my favorites, but it works well.
Worry Beads
This is an acoustic guitar based tune that works really well. The guitar parts are intricate, and there is a real folk music vibe to this.
Beach In Vietnam
Piano and vocals are the components of this evocative tune. It’s less than a minute long.
Stagnant Pools Of Sorrow
Piano starts things here. Other keyboard elements join quickly. This pretty instrumental piece is made up exclusively of that instrumentation. It’s a pretty piece of music.