WOLF ALICE UNVEIL RUMINATIVE NEW SINGLE ‘THE SOFA’ AHEAD OF NEW AVANT GARDE ERA
SINGLE REVIEW | WOLF ALICE – THE SOFA By Michaela Roper
Wolf Alice are soundtracking their glimmering new avant garde era with a piano-laden symphony that strives to tell the tale of love in the modern age, whilst still seeping with nostalgia. The quartet’s sequential release ahead of their soon-to-be-born album, ‘The Clearing’ shines with musical maturity, a new sense of self, and a rawness that still has a bit of that classic Wolf Alice bite.
‘The Sofa’ serves as an instrumental homage to the band’s North London roots. Just like the music video, the band’s latest release is a scrapbook of sonic imagery which crafts a self-reflective, pining track that perfectly summarises frontwoman Ellie Rowsell’s contemplative attitude. The piano ballad itself is sharply produced, but with softened edges courtesy of impeccably controlled vocal work and gleaming acoustic guitar stints that fill each and every crack; like a rusted pound coin falling down the back of this metaphorical settee.
Ellie Rowsell’s familiar stream of consciousness approach to lyricism has never felt more alive as the new track grapples with conceptualisations of aging, unresolved dreams, and the quietness of life amongst the hustle and bustle of the city. ‘The Sofa’ may portray a simplistic narrative on the surface, but becomes an effortlessly beautiful, personal monologue that really tugs on the heartstrings – showcased through carefully-sung stints like:
The intellectual beauty queen
Didn’t make it out to California
Where I thought I might clean the slate,
Feels a little like I’m stuck in Seven Sisters.
The band’s intimate exploration of their homely roots also translates into the turning of a page in their musical journey. Ellie Rowsell’s infatuation with Seven Sisters, the North London studio where their fresh new project was carefully penned, almost mirrors the same yearning and fantastical teenage dreams that were infused within Wolf Alice’s early work.
Over on the guitar, Joff Oddie subtly transforms the track’s negative space into something ethereal, as Theo Ellis’ basslines weave in and out of vocal breaths to carry a soft rhythm along a glittering stream of dancing piano notes and swirling memories. The strings that cast a golden light over the single are simply irresistible, and propel the track to lofty, harmonious heights with such grandeur and emotion. Yet still, in this sense, ‘The Sofa’ feels like the introverted, quiet sibling of leading single ‘Bloom Baby Bloom’.
Wolf Alice know how to produce a standout tune that feels like a spoken word rumination of lived in experiences, accompanied by an edgy backing track that wouldn’t sound out of place in a coming-of-age short film. This track slots into their growing discography as a gravitational pull, a grounding activity bringing the band back to earth in the wake of an outstanding performance at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
If ‘The Sofa’ is setting the scene for Wolf Alice’s new release later this summer, then we’re in for a blissful exploration of harmonic vocal work as the formidable frontwoman Ellie Rowsell showcases her sonic versatility and stylish attitude for the fifth, but hopefully not final, time.
