For some reason I had the idea that touring around the world multiple times would have soured Wet Leg's front ladies, making a bigger impact then they'd expected and that this would reflect on their music(al perspective). 'Wet Leg' was an optimistic affair, bordering on naivete. An album that puts a smile on my face every time I put it on, and that was a lot of times in the past few years. It's close to becoming an all time favourite.
My reception of the first single 'CPR' underscored my expectation. In hindsight it tells me more about my state of mind at the time. It was a very busy time. A holiday cleared my head and ears and 'CPR', the opening song of Moisterizer, now lands just like a new Wet Leg song should: like a great party in full swing.
In fact, that party just does not stop until the very last note is played out. The first thing that is obvious is that Wet Leg grew from a duo with studio help into a full band. The sound is fuller and bigger, without losing that typical Wet Leg elements that are so irresistible and exciting. I'm still working out which song will become my 'Chaise Longue' and 'Wet Dream' of Moisterizer. The candidates are there in abundance.
Wet Leg is not totally on an island of its own. It is somewhere where I would have expected (in 2020) Wolf Alice to be in 2025. I can divulge that that band's new album, out on 29 August, takes a totally different turn. Yet, there are some elements that do come together in the way Rhian Teasdale is also able to sing, with a soft female voice, like e.g. in 'Don't Speak', while in 'Pond Song' and a part of 'Pokemon' Wet Leg even has that dreamy quality. In '11.21' there are even hints at Portishead, casting open the musical palet even wider. Just like (the ex-?) Porridge Radio can be mentioned as well.
It's clear Ms. Teasdale was in love when she wrote the lyrics for this album. Hopefully for her she still is, as these songs will remain with her for some time. The weirdness or sexual honesty, the other way to look at it, comes by in 'Pillow Talk', where Doris Day references are rife. 'Pillow Talk' and 'Calamity Jane' come by in a context that may have shocked the 1950s filmstar and singer, but like 'Wet Dream' address sex from a very personal angle.
Having just returned from my vacation, I can quite openly state that Moisterizer is the first album I'm buying next. The only conclusion is, it is a must have album. There's only one point of critique possible. The cover art is one of the most hideous ones I've ever seen. A female devil incarnate or something like it. As I'm bound to play the album a lot, I will also have to look at it a lot. Aarghh!, but as one of my once flatmates said: "Het leven is geen krentenbol". I'll leave it to you to find an adequate translation in your own language. She was wrong though. With an album like Wet Leg's Moisterizer life is a krentenbol adorned with the best salted butter and cheese to boot.
Wout de Natris - van der Borght
You can listen to and order Moisterizer here:
https://wetleg.bandcamp.com/album/moisturizer
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