MANCHILD: IMPASSIONED INAUGURAL
Thomas Lu

7 minute read.

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Phum Viphurit’s Manchild is a journey of love, heartbreak, vulnerability, and maturation scored by pleasant guitar chords and simple drum patterns. While nice to listen to, a closer look reveals the album contains a broad, circular narrative. The overarching story follows the considerably rapid decomposition of a relationship as well as the recovery and lessons learned thereafter.

 

Devoid of complex lyricism or grandiose production, Viphurit’s sound is distinctly bare. That’s not to say it isn’t detailed, quite the opposite. His unique, stripped down style showcases the specific textures and tones of the neo-soul sound he pioneers. The album came in February of 2017, preceded by six singles, the earliest of which came in 2014. That makes at least three years of work on this album, a timeline that is evident in the music. Manchild is an extremely emotional album headlined by Viphurit’s charismatically reserved vocals. 

 

The album starts with Strangers in a Dream, a dreamy, upbeat tale of new love. The experience of getting lost in a lover, of knowing that they are indescribably different than all else is not a new thing to sing about. However, Viphurit brings a refreshing self awareness to the track, realizing that it may not end well, but that not taking the risk is even more dangerous. The most upbeat song on the album, Strangers in a Dream begins the love lost narrative with, well, love.

 

Run seems to continue the new love theme, an idea that is quickly dashed when Viphurit reaches the hook.

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     You’re up till dawn

     Trying to move on

     Lovers gone wrong

     Let go, it hurts, I know

     It’s time to run

     Moonrise kingdom

    Just bury your worries and sing

 

As the song continues, he describes exactly how his love fell apart. His lover suddenly realizing that she loved him no more and deciding to end things, leaving him feeling manipulated and heartbroken.

 

The Art of Detaching One’s Heart features Jenny & The Scallywags, a folk/pop band based in Bangkok lead by singer Jennifer Lackgren. The simple instrumental leaves ample room for the singers to shine, and shine they do. The song is structured as a dialogue, with Viphurit explaining his side of the breakup and Lackgren, playing the role of the lover, explaining her side. One of the best moments in the song comes as the two sing

 

     Viphurit: I thought we were happy

     Lackgren: I fell out of love

     Both: It’s not like before

 

Immediately after this bombshell is dropped, the song transitions to a brief instrumental section, leaving the listener to truly consider the implications of these three lines. Viphurit ingeniously uses this this ‘one, the other, combination of the two’ structure to reveal both sides of the breakup, just who thought what, why, and where they agreed. The song also holds significance as the only song with vocals other than Viphurit’s, representing that small amount of time one has to ask ‘why?’ after a breakup, that time of limbo when separation is inevitable but hasn’t happened yet.

 

Trial and Error is a slow, folksy review of what has happened so far with the added filter of retrospect. Viphurit is able to realize now that the love he once shared is long gone, but, that he still misses the girl and all that she meant to him. He also, very adeptly, communicates the wildly complex idea that love is a process of trial and error, not guaranteed to create a positive outcome. It’s pretty impressive stuff to realize and effectively communicate considering Viphurit was only 20 when this song was first released.

 

Adore is a downtrodden pop song following Viphurit’s willingness to restart this broken relationship. He feigns acceptance of the breakup on the outside while internally rationalizing his hurt feelings by telling himself that there’s still a chance for them to get back together. In shorter terms, he knows she is gone but holds on to the hope of winning her back.

 

Paper Throne is an upbeat rejection of our instinct to hide our sad feelings and move forward as fast as possible. Viphurit commits to resolving his issues without relying on consumerism or society’s empty well wishes. He knows the pain isn’t permanent and that soon he will be able to move forward once more. 

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     No, I don’t need your paper throne

     Oh, I know the fall won’t break my fragile bones

     Even the fools know nothing is forever

 

The reminiscent guitar accents forcefully send you back to the simpler times of Strangers in a Dream and make you consider where exactly he got lost. 

 

Beg is an empoweringly independent letter to self set to a simple, guitar led instrumental. This simplicity once more allows Viphurit to showcase his vocal skill with his voice reaching new, passionate heights. He here acknowledges the fundamental truth that love does not disappear overnight. His lover has changed her mind and wants him back. However, in his time without her, he has realized that he is better off on his own and must not indulge his urge to take the easy way out and go back to her. He reassures himself that this strength and adherence to forward progress will pay off in the future. 

 

     As her words pull you down

     Keep your head above the ground

     It may bring you to your knees

     Don’t beg please

 

Beg is a pendulum that swings between staying in a bad relationship and realizing that being alone is preferable. The song ends on the hauntingly cold, goosebump inducing, and perfectly delivered line

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     I beg you, go away

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Long Gone features a knee bouncing groove guitar backed by spacey, ethereal chords that seem to bounce around the room as you listen. At its peak, it is a patchwork barrage of sounds that on paper would be too different to even think of putting together, yet, he makes it work. In terms of story, the song presents a mirrored structure. Viphurit presents both sides of a brief fling, not intended to last. Two lonely souls both hoping for a lasting connection, but knowing the other will be gone by morning. It is an empty facade of connection spurred by loneliness.

 

Sweet Hurricane circles back to the beginning of the album, completing its circular narrative. The final song once more tells the tale of a broken relationship. However, it leaves this relationship open to fixing, leading back to the beginning of the album. There is a specific moment, just over halfway through the song, that pushes it to a new level. It is when Phum breaks into an echoey, layered, passionate call singing

 

     When you’re alone,

     It’s with you I belong

Manchild is an impressively well rounded and complete debut album and an incredible testament to the natural talent and applied skill of the young singer/songwriter. Its simple sound lulls you into a space of comfort. Its complex subject matter ruins this comfort. While on the surface it lacks variance in topic, Viphurit is able to explore seemingly all facets of broken love. One might consider it a case study of the subject, exploring in depth several perspectives and angles. This album handily earns an 8/10 on the WACK. scale. If you want to cry, listen to Manchild.

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Written by Thomas Lu. October 2021.