By opening with a reminiscence on their school days as far back as learning “to spell our names” in ‘Schoolyard’ and ending with ‘Restless in Bloom’, a lamentation of lost innocence which depicts the hopelessly relatable awkwardness of first experiences that arise in later years of adolescence, this five-track debut EP takes the listener through an unfiltered narrative of growing up in the UK.
The listener is taken through the highs and lows of learning to love as you come of age, highlighting the often destructive and painful nature of a first love in ‘Medicine’ through claims that love “wounds in ways I can’t explain” and that “if she were an impure pill I’d take her still”. However, the young love described in ‘Restless in Bloom’, despite being more overtly sexual, seems much more innocent through the candid illustration of the awkwardness and self-consciousness which is so synonymous with this time of life.
Romance aside, songs such as ‘Wallflower’ tackle the other equally agonizing teenage experiences such as a preoccupation about fitting in (“so should I leave? because I don’t belong here”), or the loneliness of growing apart from those once so important to us, as seen in ‘Schoolyard’ - “I wandered lonely as a cloud through the rain and stood upon the bridge we used to say was ours”.
This raw and unapologetic narrative captures the confusion, heartbreak, and loss of innocence encountered in the coming-of-age of every teenager. It is epitomized by the band’s choice of cover photograph: a young child shielding themself from the struggles of growing up - an unfortunate truth which these five songs confirm will manifest in teenagehood.
Photo Credits: @yaeltemminck
Ahead of a short run of headline shows and a handful of UK festival dates this summer, Tooth’s debut EP ‘Restless in Bloom’ covers themes, experiences, and emotions which everybody can relate to. Told through the clever yet coherent lyricism and excellent musicianship of one of London’s most talked-about upcoming bands, I look forward to seeing what they have to offer in their dazzlingly bright future.
This review was kindly submitted by Mackenzie. Follow her Substack!
Words by
Mackenzie Elliot, 2026.