Some albums take years to be fully appreciated for their brilliance. Records that weren’t well-received on release go on to become classics as the years go by. Then there are the albums that you know are works of genius by the end of track one. Wolf Alice’s fourth LP, The Clearing, falls unwaveringly in the latter category.
The pounding keys and gentle strings of opener Thorns accentuate the power of Ellie Rowsell’s indomitable vocals, leading us eagerly into the peculiar instrumentation of single Bloom Baby Bloom. Completely unlike anything else that’s come out this year, this opening one-two reminds us that it’s impossible to define Wolf Alice by genre or time period. Equally impressive, Bread Butter Tea Sugar - the opener on 'side two', vinyl fans - is a mammoth, arena-filling indie anthem full of thrilling musical details that spark into life as the track unfolds.
