Wolf Alice ‘The Clearing’ Album Review by Graham Finney
Reaching the release of ‘The Clearing’, the fourth album in a twelve-year career for indie darlings, Wolf Alice, and, from the opening moments of the first track, “Thorns”, it becomes very apparent how much the London quartet have matured. A grand opening to the album, “Thorns”, builds up to a soaring climax by which time Wolf Alice should well and truly have your attention.
After that almost movie-score-esque opener, there is the slight worry in the back of your mind that the rest of ‘The Clearing’ isn’t going to match up to the quality of the scene-setting opener. Those worries are soon quashed though, as the quirky “Bloom Baby Bloom” hits you with a toe-tapping piano melody, while “Just Two Girls” continues to take the album in a more adult direction.
An album that effortlessly shifts direction and tempo, “Passenger Seat” takes the listener down a lighter, 70s soft rock route, while the gentle piano utilised on “Play It Out” almost contradicts vocalist Ellie Rowsell’s forthright words. I say almost because, at the head of this band, Rowsell is proving herself to be the star of the show. Whether it is to a backdrop of dreamlike, soothing tones of “Midnight Song” or alongside the quirky pop stomp of lead single “Bloom Baby Bloom”, Rowsell puts in a five-star performance, demonstrating both versatility as a singer and as a songwriter.
One common element running through ‘The Clearing’ is that a 70s soft rock vibe, with a number of the tracks including “Bread Butter Tea Sugar” taking you back to a time when music was more organic and simpler. In fact, even when you get into the more experimental tracks on the album like “Bloom Baby Bloom”, you find yourself listening to an album where there is no fat or clutter.
Despite being an album of discovery for both Rowsell and Wolf Alice, the confidence demonstrated throughout every wonderful, dreamy moment of ‘The Clearing’ shows that, after twelve years growing up, the London quartet have finally learned who they are. Other outlets have labelled ‘The Clearing’ as a contender for album of the year and, as much as it pains me to agree with the competition, they could be right.
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