Beloved indie giants Wolf Alice have made their mark on the music industry; now they’re coming to light our City, too.
Wolf Alice will rock the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Friday the 5th of December, and by that time their fabulous record The Clearing will be four months young.
If you’re familiar with the band, you’ll be aware that a lot of Wolf Alice’s previous hits were more gradual, contemplative journeys, with wispy vocals reverbing over the guitars. The Clearing marks a bit of evolution for them; Ellie Rowsell’s voice has matured, but so has their sound. That’s not to say their previous hits are any less great. Their indie megahit “Don’t Delete The Kisses” was monumental for their careers, but The Clearing would have to be their magnum opus.
With a bit more piano and plenty of other instruments, they’re more than the average band set-up. If they want a flute on a tune, they won’t substitute. With the inclusion of quite a few piano and string instances along the way, tunes are ramped up to their maximum potential.
Ellie’s dressing her voice with more clarity than before – think Karen Carpenter – but it’s just as gorgeous as ever. She and her bandmates were clearly feeling a bit more fiendish in the studio for this album; her raptor screams in “Bloom Baby Bloom” are endlessly fun. The uplifting synth-infused banger feels euphoric on the choruses, moving tectonic plates with Ellie’s resolve: “But I’ll bloom, baby, bloom / Watch me, yeah, you’ll see just what I’m worth / Yes, I’ll bloom, baby, bloom / Every flower needs to neighbor with the dirt”.
Other gems on The Clearing include the gorgeous journey that is “White Horses”, featuring drummer Joel Amey on vocals in the verses: a perfect contrast with Ellie’s lead on the chorus. The fleshy acoustics are pure brain medicine, and Joey’s timbre and rhythm sits comfortably on the track. “Play It Out” is lullabyish and beautiful. You’ll find yourself ascending as the gentle piano arpeggios do so. “Thorns” might be the one you chant dewy-eyed along to after a couple of drinks: “I must be a narcissist / God knows that I can’t resist / To make a song and dance about it”.
“Bread Butter Tea Sugar” is a self-deprecating anthem concealed with a jovial tune. We imagine the recording session was pretty fun, though, especially with the inclusion of a loud glissando down the keys. Similarly, “Just Two Girls” and “The Sofa” also touch on feelings very close to home for most of us, but they’re simply therapeutic.
Wolf Alice have released the video for their new single Just Two Girls (featuring the actor Lucy Boynton alongside singer Ellie Rowsell) taken from The Clearing which has reached #1 on the UK album chart, outselling that week’s #2 album by more than double. You can watch the video here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvSimkFF8e0.
Wolf Alice don’t hold back; they are liberated from constraints or fear. If Ellie wants to scream, she does it. Listening to Wolf Alice feels like you’re doing something good for your mental health. We only wish their Leeds show could come quicker.
Photography by Mark Wheelwright.
