Wolf Alice : "the Clearing"

 

This album is a weird and wonderful take on pop. I have never been a huge ABBA fan, but they come to mind in terms of vocal harmonies, although there is an equal measure of influence from Blondie. So the pseudo disco groove is in place, but to their credit, it seems like the pop trends of today have come to meet this band halfway; they just had to embrace the closeted disco influences. I can also hear strains of Olivia Newton-John, but let's get real with the fact that she was always just a product of the music industry, and this band is streamlining things to fit that mold.

Where they have not had to compromise is the clever nature of their lyrics, with the opening track setting the bar for this. It is challenging for songs that tread the middle of the road, like "Just Two Girls," to live up to this despite doing everything required of them here. They lean in a more fol country direction for "Leaning Against the Wall"."Passenger" seat finds them continuing to capture the 70s feel. They are less compelling on "Play it Out," which is a ballad that bores me. 

There is a feeling that I think Burt Bacharach is owed credit that arose in the 70s, where songs had the feel of skipping through Central Park under a New York sun, Queen sometimes indulged in this for obvious reasons, and Wolf Alice is carrying on the tradition with " Bread Butter Tea Sugar".  They are effective, but not as inspired on "Safe in the World". Leaving no corner of 70s pop music unexplored, they take a drive into Joni Mitchell's zipcode for "Midnight Song".

"White Horses" might have the sounds of the 70s dialed into the mix, but the song itself grooves more originally thanks to the vocal cadance, making it one of the album's strongest moments.  Similar inspiration prevails for "the Sofa" that closes the album. Overall, this album works out thanks to the great vibes, credit to the excellent production that gives the vocals room to do their thing, and the clever vocal phrasing that pushes smart lyrics to the forefront, which pop music could use more of these days.

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