Oliver Wilde – A Brief Introduction
To Unnatural Lightyears (Howling Owl)
Vinyl/CD/DL
Out Now
So, what do
I know about Oliver Wilde? Well, he’s
not related to Oscar, I don’t think, and, er, that’s about it. Oh, and he’s just released a rather splendid
album with an even more splendid title.
Having no preconceptions about an artist can help, and, that’s very much
the case with A Brief Introduction To Unnatural Lightyears.
Oliver has
created an album of complete and utter deliciousness and is a lovely way for
Howling Owl to celebrate their first album release.
With
influences from the likes of Nick Drake and Elliott Smith, it’s hardly
surprising that Wilde’s sound should be one of calm and feeling. With a voice like a lower toned Badly Drawn
Boy, his songs float in and out and around your head and take you to a place
that your dreams can only imagine. His
unconventional style and often introspective approach to songwriting and
presentation will only win him admirers, and, many they well be.
Lead
single, Perrett’s Brook, accompanied by its somewhat strange and effecting
video is a rather lovely. Its swirling
electronics and melancholic guitars perfectly compliment the whispering vocals
which is so delicate it feels as though it could break into a million pieces at
the slightest mis-timed breath.
There’s a
simply sumptuous guitar on Pinch as Wilde continues to deliver his woozy, fuzzy
vocals over even more dreamlike backing, and, the trip through the unnatural
lightyears of the albums title just keeps on going. The pace is increased on Walter Steven’s Only
Daughter with a beat that is present but not overwhelming and a great hook.
The
instrumentation to Marleahs Cadence has New Order (under) tones with a beat and
driving bassline that pushes the song forward with intriguing vocals. It’s probably the catchiest song on the album
but that doesn’t make picking a standout track any easier such is the quality
of the tracks here.
Wiltshire
can be very proud.
Links
Published on Louder Than War 1/08/13 - here
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