The Clearing
Wolf Alice
Wolf Alice have softened the edges on The Clearing. The guitars still matter, but piano, strings and large vocal arrangements take up more of the room. It is an attractive sound, and Ellie Rowsell has the voice to make it work. The album becomes less convincing when that smoothness starts to remove the tension as well.
Thorns makes a strong opening statement. The strings give the song scale, while Rowsell sounds clear and in control. Bloom Baby Bloom is better still. Its busy piano part gives the music a strange little push, and the vocal has enough bite to stop the polished arrangement becoming too polite. It's one of the songs that makes the new direction feel exciting.
Just Two Girls takes a lighter approach. The rhythm and piano give it an easy movement, and the chorus is difficult to dislike. It does lean on repetition, but the band's enjoyment comes through. Passenger Seat is more restrained, using acoustic guitar and layered voices to create a warm, open sound.
There are plenty of obvious older influences in this music, especially the softer rock of the 1970s. The band handle them well, although the results can occasionally feel a little too familiar. The stronger moments have a detail or a performance that pulls them back towards Wolf Alice.
White Horses is particularly useful in that respect. Drummer Joel Amey takes the vocal, and the song has a more restless feel than much of the record around it. Bread Butter Tea Sugar also adds some welcome energy and character. These are reminders that the full band can still be a very interesting part of the story.
The closing The Sofa chooses comfort over drama. It's a gentle ending, and an appropriate one, although the album could use a few more moments willing to disturb that comfort. Everything sounds good; not everything feels equally necessary.
Still, the best songs make a convincing case for the change. The Clearing has strong performances, memorable melodies and a clear identity. A little more of the old uncertainty might have made it even better.
