Wolf Alice
Visions of a Life
[Dirty Hit]
Wolf Alice have always portrayed themselves as more of a gang than a band. Their debut LP, My Love is Cool, offered an invitation to become part of the group; if you got it and were weird enough you were cool enough. Visions of a Life flips this theme on its head somewhat. Teenage dreams of unbreakable friendships and days that will never end are replaced by musings on loneliness and feelings of inadequacy. This may sound depressing – and Visions of a Life is certainly a darker record – but it makes for a more interesting and expansive album.
Singer, Ellie Rowsell, is constantly experimenting with different vocal styles throughout the record, and even within individual songs themselves. On ‘Yuk Foo’ she shows her aggressive, fightstarter style, ‘After the Zero Hour’ portrays a more celestial, dreamlike persona and ‘Beautifully Unconventional’ the ever-cool, husky-voiced popstar.
Musically, too, Visions of a Life is more multi-dimensional than its predecessor. There are more sophisticated musical references – ranging from synth-era Best Coast (‘Don’t Delete The Kisses’) to early-era Chemical Brothers (‘Sadboy’) – and a greater variety in composition itself. This is a more ambitious, adventurous album, that is at times synth-rock stadium bangers and others English folk-rock ballads.
This variety in output is suggestive of a band that are still trying to nail down that elusive sound. Visions of a Life is certainly a step up from the North London four-piece, but still short of the potential this band/gang are capable of. However, there is enough creative energy here to draw the listener in and make you want to know what is going to come next.
