The Clearing. Wolf Alice

Wolf Alice can be found on this blog ever since its first album in 2015. The band resonated well with this reviewer resulting in the band's previous album, 'Blue Weekend', becoming the album of the year 2021 on this blog and number 11 of the first quarter of this century. Then it became quiet until this very Friday with the release of The Clearing.

Where everyone points to Ellie Rowsell's first line on the first song 'Thorn', where she reflects on the lyrics of 'Blue Weekend', I would like to point out something completely different. To me it's like she went to visit Paul McCartney and came out with an intro combining 'Let It Be' and 'The Long And Winding Road'. And to have raised Phil Spector from the dead to orchestrate the second part of the intro. I did not see that one coming.

Wolf Alice is a band that is able to surprise and certainly did so from album two to three. In the past years the band has reinvented itself once again. Rowsell composes on piano now and it shows. The piano plays a large part on The Clearing, just like the way she presents herself. On the sleeve it shows a diva with the light fully on herself. It may be what is needed to push the band to that next level it deserves. The fact that it will play the AFAS Live in Amsterdam and not Paradiso or Melkweg attests to an expected growth.

The Clearing is an album that is different from all that came before and may even alienate first time round fans, especially if they are rigid in their tastes. Wolf Alice shows the soul side of itself. A side where guitars often play a second fiddle as it were. The keyboard/piano leads while synths or strings play in the background. For the rhythm section there is still a prominent role. It is guitarist Joff Oddie who has had to adapt and focus on embellishments in some songs.

It was the first single that didn't land well with me on its release. I decided not to write on 'Bloom Baby Bloom' and abide my time. What followed was released during my holiday and when I returned it was to a a new single and the final song on The Clearing. 'White Horses' sung in part and written by drummer Joel Amey, encouraged me to open my ears and start listening to The Clearing. Things turned out well pretty fast. Even somewhat with 'Bloom Baby Bloom'.

Fans of old will be pleased by 'Leaning Against The Wall'. It contains that layer of mystery in its sound that defines Wolf Alice's music of old. In 'Passenger Seat' the band checks out its inner country vein. Again a move that I did not see coming, but one that suits the band perfectly. Ellie Rowsell is showing off a different voice, the acoustic guitar has a great role and again there's The Beatles, as I hear George Harrison like licks on that guitar. Listen closely and you'll find it's not the last reference on this album. There are so many more surprises on this album.

At some point I did get the impression that this is more an Ellie Rowsell solo album than a Wolf Alice one. Like in the artwork, Rowsell's role is extremely prominent in most songs. From what I hear today, a solo album next seems more likely though. Time will tell.

Luckily, there is a rock song like 'Bread Butter Tea Sugar' on The Clearing as well. As you will find it makes for vary varied listening. Whether The Clearing will resonate with me like 'Blue Weekend' does only time can tell. The starting position is a positive one and I will probably buy the album this afternoon when I go to visit my local record dealer. That tells you enough for now.

With The Clearing Wolf Alice may surprise you musically but not with a lack of quality. The band delivers with its new album. Perhaps not in the way you would have come to expect. It has set a next step in its development and its a good one. After this album Wolf Alice can go any direction it choses, for better or worse. There are simply little barriers left.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght