I recall telling you all that I was impressed with their previous album, “Blue Weekend”, which was released four years ago. As we all know, that is a long time in music; therefore, it is easier to be yesterday’s news. However, the period between “Blue Weekend” and “The Clearing” has seen them remain fresh and avoid the block, and they have certainly been working hard to make something special.
Markus Dravs was the producer last time, and this time they have employed another top producer, Greg Kurstin, and dare I say it, but he has bettered what Markus did. We have frontwoman Ellie Rowsell’s soul laid bare in songwriting and fantastic vocals with profound instrumentation. This record, much like “Blue Weekend”, is more autobiographical regarding Ellie, where she delves into her life experiences with utmost honesty.
Wolf Alice have never shied away from exploring new sounds despite them being heavily pigeon-holed in the indie punk category. There are new layers with every song you hear. Even though the band have been together for going fifteen years, the chemistry is still there, and it appears they are tighter than ever.
The opener ’Thorns’ shows their intent. Ellie confesses to being a narcissist and a masochist on this storm-cloud ballad. Quite a surprise to hear her say that. You would never have her down as a narcissist. We then have the confidence of the lead single,’ Bloom, Baby, Bloom,’ featuring a drum and bass element. We then have a track called ‘Just Two Girls’, which celebrates friendship between two females. The intimacy of this friendship is so palpable that it will resonate with the listener, evoking a deep connection.
However, it’s moments like ‘Leaning Against the Wall’ that capture the meaning behind Ellie’s lyricism and just an acoustic guitar on the folk track to drive the point home. Another one that highlights Ellie’s words is ‘Play It Out, which is a highly emotional piano ballad that will certainly move the listener. It addresses Ellie opting not to have children, but maybe as she grows old, she might repent at leisure.
Yes, the album has quite a bit of introspection, but it never becomes overly introspective. We have rock-pop energy in ’Safe in the World’, ‘Bread, Butter, Tea, Sugar’, and ‘Passenger Seat’to lighten the mood. It showcases the band’s ability to transition seamlessly from raw energy to introspection.
The end has two tracks that are in each of the spectrum: ‘White Horses’ offers the energy, and my favourite track ‘The Sofa’ sees Ellie reflect on her life and what she desires over tender instrumentation that is quite dreamy. It is indeed a track that took me by surprise when I heard it on Later…with Jools Holland, in the spring, because it is nothing like I have ever heard them do before.
You will hear several influences, including Florence and the Machine (Markus is known to produce for them), The Beatles, the late Sinéad O’Connor, Portishead, and, dare I say it, Taylor Swift. Having said that, Wolf Alice still maintains their identity. What the band have achieved on this record is how the emotion increases track after track, leaving the listener feeling the impact. Of course, the album is not complete without Ellie’s unmistakable vocals that range from intimate and soul-bearing to the power we hear on the high-energy tracks.
“The Clearing” showcases the band at their most confident, fearlessly displaying raw emotion and delivering tracks that are destined to be timeless. The album’s frank honesty, although it may be slower-paced than their usual style, is refreshing and showcases their versatility. I am certain that this record will receive several accolades shortly.
Song recommendations: ‘The Sofa’, ’Safe in the World’, ‘White Horses’
9/10
Honest Opinions 