When ‘My Love Is Cool’ arrived a decade ago, Wolf Alice became a shining light in an otherwise floundering British guitar scene. Each of their three albums to date have been nominated for the Mercury Price, with 2017’s ‘Visions of a Life’ winning the award, while adding fresh colours to their palette with each release. ‘The Clearing’ continues that wonderful trend.
Produced by Greg Kurstin in Los Angeles, the London four piece’s fourth record is their most assured and mature yet, showcasing songwriting craft with a nuanced dive into the soft-rock of the 1970s.
Gone are the distortion pedals and post-adolescent screaming. In their place you will find pianos, acoustic guitars and added focus on Ellie Rowsell’s vocals.
The move away from their grungier sound feels like a natural progression for a band now in their 30s, one that comes with a willingness to develop as songwriters.
Theatrical lead single Bloom Baby Bloom finds Rowsell at her enigmatic best over jaunty keys, utilising her voice as a performative rock instrument. Just Two Girls is a fun Cali pop anthem, while the Americana-inspired Passenger Seat is an earworm different to what we’ve heard before.
Wolf Alice thrive when producing tender love songs and Leaning Against the Wall’s emotive spin on country-folk is another hit in that regard, the accompanying gentle synths and Joel Amey’s propulsive drumming ensuring another intriguing highpoint.
The best is saved for last with gorgeous plucked guitars on the folky Midnight Song, while White Horses is pure psych perfection lead by Amey. To finish, Rowsell reflects on unrealised dreams during the piano ballad The Sofa – a closer that’s appropriately grand and striking. To their credit, standing still has never been on Wolf Alice’s radar. With ‘The Clearing’, they are calmer and more confident, producing the music they want to over what is expected of them.
Wolf Alice Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sun August 31 2025 - KINGSTON CIRCUIT Kingston
Mon September 01 2025 - LIVERPOOL Camp and Furnace
Fri November 28 2025 - MANCHESTER AO Arena
Sat November 29 2025 - BIRMINGHAM Utilita Arena
Mon December 01 2025 - CARDIFF Utilita Arena
Tue December 02 2025 - LONDON O2 Arena
Wed December 03 2025 - LONDON O2 Arena
Fri December 05 2025 - LEEDS first direct Arena
Sun December 07 2025 - GLASGOW OVO Hydro
Mon December 08 2025 - NOTTINGHAM Motorpoint Arena
Wed December 10 2025 - DUBLIN 3Arena
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