Visions Of A Life - Wolf Alice
Choosing a favourite is an impossible decision. With the whole world of music at your fingertips, what do you choose? And, yet we are asked the same question over and over throughout our lives. When I thought about the question myself, however, I discovered there was only one album I could pick. Whether I’m happy or I’m sad, Visions of A Life is always there for me to get totally lost in. Wolf Alice’s more experimental sophomore record finds new ways to explore every human struggle: fitting in… love… loss… betrayal. The song writing, instrumental and production talent is unparalleled without even mentioning Ellie Rowsell’s beautiful voice. And, although it has been reviewed a thousand times and even won the 2018 Mercury Prize, I wanted to share how much the album really means to me and, hopefully will to you too.
Heavenward:
The album is introduced by a mass of noise: the bending of guitar strings, the throb of synthesisers and the overwhelming buzz of distortion. It almost feels like a dream… In a moment’s suspense, the sound dies away, only to be replaced by the familiar strumming of rhythm guitar which provides a beat amidst the beautiful chaos. It is the unrelenting bombardment of unique timbres which really makes this song special. When Ellie Rowsell begins her lead vocal line, almost a minute into the song, the sentiments of sadness and hope have already been laid bear by the other three band members, making her words somehow even more meaningful. She sings softly about the loss of a loved one who deserved to go “Heavenward like all Earth angels should”. With a wonderful simplicity, she explains, in only two verses, how much they all learnt from and cared for their friend. The verses provide a stark contrast to the wailing guitar solo and zealous choruses that last most of the song – perhaps they are moments of contemplation before they exclaim with certainty that their friend will keep “dancing on”.
Yuk Foo:
Yuk Foo is two minutes of undiluted rage. Although lead singer Ellie Rowsell has said the song is not there to be taken seriously, it is clear that this is an outpouring of her own anger at the world and its beliefs. You don’t come up with the line, “I want to f**ck all the people I meet” without a serious yearning to shock people and break the expectations that surround every female artist. Its pounding bass lines, bursts of white noise and screeching guitar all provide a deep desire in the listener to scream along with her – or at least bang your head to one of the most lethal punk songs of this millennia.
Beautifully Unconventional:
Inspired by the 80s film classic, Heathers, Beautifully Unconventional is a celebration of everyone’s individuality and their right not to conform to society’s rules. Sonically, it is one of many dramatic turning points in the journey of this album as we move from punk to sweet and funky pop. The highlight of the song is Theo Ellis’ groovy bass line, punctuated at just the right points by Joff Odie’s light guitar chords. The aura created by Ellie Rowsell’s powerful vocals is one of freedom and strength: someone who doesn’t care about others’ opinions and is out there purely to have fun. As a result, the song has surrounded some of my favourite memories, becoming my personal reminder to be care-free and love life.
Don’t Delete the Kisses:
Don’t Delete the Kisses is a beautiful love song for every hopeless romantic. The track consists mainly of Ellie Rowsell’s wistful monologues, voicing her fears of rejection and feelings of self-doubt, before ending optimistically with her finding the courage to start a relationship. Her stream of consciousness perfectly tells the story of falling in love – a topic that everyone can relate with. The song’s title comes from one of the many novel ways that she manages to expound on a subject that has been explored a thousand times (“typing a message that (she knows she’ll) never send”). The excitement begins from even the first few moments as a fast-paced beat sets your heart racing. Meanwhile, distant vocals and sweeping synthesisers immerse you completely in the music. The track becomes more and more dramatic as Ellie deplores “What if it’s not meant for me?” between each verse. The synthesisers start to cry out – higher and higher. Ellie’s soliloquy becomes more and more urgent. The song reaches its peak. In the final moments of the track, she declares “Me and You Were Meant to Be”, allowing the listener the luxury of a Hollywood ending.
Planet Hunter:
The gentle strumming that introduces Planet Hunter is just another example of the distinctive dreamy quality that runs through each of Wolf Alice’s 12 masterpieces. The dissonant harmony effortlessly recreates memories of nights that felt infinite – the song is a four minute nostalgia trip, tinged with regret. For Wolf Alice, it is an ode to the overwhelming year they released their debut album and their dreams of success came true (“I left my mind in 2015”). The song has a melancholy edge – Ellie discloses, “In the morning I only had myself to blame” – but it feels like a desperation for things not to change when that is clearly not possible. It is a sorrowful song streaked with memories of better times, the mix creating one of the most beautiful tracks of the album. As the song swirls around you, feel the drama grow as riffs on piano, howling synths and finally passionate overdriven guitar overtake each other in this superbly sentimental track.
Visions of a Life is available on all streaming services