Wild Beasts, Smother

By Ann Clarke

I was quite fond of last year’s release by Wild Beasts—Two Dancers—so I was quite surprised that they had a brand new album out so quickly thereafter. So does Smother hold up to its predecessor? The short response is: Yes, it does!

Luckily, Smother doesn’t sound like a rushed effort. Actually, that’s probably due to Two Dancers having been out for a while overseas before it made its way over to North America. What Smother does sound like is a matured output compared to Two Dancers. Lyrically, it has less youthful rebellion, while it’s more minimal from a sonic perspective.

This sparseness of melody and emphasis on vocals also adds even more dramatic sensuality to the lyrics. The lyrics are lustful, but romantic: Think of Bryan Ferry as a reference point, and that would be pretty close.

The music itself is very heavy in reverb, but not too heavy; it’s not like you’ll get lost in the wash of something like you would on a Cocteau Twins record. The voices are still very clear, and production is top-notch. Rather, the reverb is heavier on the instruments; I guess I could say the guitar work is evocative of The Edge.

Wild Beasts has experimented with more instruments on Smother, too. Stark pianos, light horn touches, bowed strings (not orchestral), and timpani drums are all new additions to the mix. The drumbeats, however, have a very programmed sound, like early ’80s analog drums. That’s not really a bad thing, though, as it works with the minimalism. Plus, they use the analog sound in the unlikeliest tracks.

The first single and video from Smother is “Albatross.” Although it’s a good track, I don’t necessarily think it’s the strongest one on the album. Perhaps the reasoning was that it has probably the catchiest lyrics on the album.

I would’ve leaned more towards the track “Reach a Bit Further” for the single; although it isn’t the best song on the album, it’s the most upbeat, and both singers (Hayden Thorpe and Tom Fleming) share vocals. I would say it’s more well rounded and indicative of the band’s capabilities.

My favorites on the album are: “Lion’s Share,” “Bed of Nails,” “Plaything,” and “Burning.” “Lion’s Share,” the first track on the album, is a very sparse but stark opener. The minimalism in this one is strong, but the harmony of voices is even stronger. The drums in “Plaything” have a distinct rattle that swirls around in a pan-delay, like the drums are answering each other. The vocals are also done in a particularly unique fashion with the lyrics being the most sexually attention-getting as the music builds to a climactic ending, then phases into a blur of chaos.

While “Plaything” is a very headstrong and confident song, it’s probably my second favorite next to “Burning.” What grabs me in this track is the usage of either bowed dulcimer or harpsichord in the beginning that isn’t eventually completely abandoned; the band uses subtle nuances of it throughout, almost like blowing wind. It is beautiful.

One thing I can’t express enough about Wild Beasts: Both singers’ voices are incredible! Its no wonder these guys were shortlisted for the 2010 Mercury Prize “Album Of The Year”; they are indeed talented and worthy of the praise they get. They’re not pretentious or an outright rip-off of anything in particular.

Wild Beasts have their obvious influences here and there, but its not like they’re trying to emulate any particular genre or movement, which is why I think they’ll persevere. It’s clear they know what the fuck they are doing and I’m glad that they seem to be a rather prolific group.

Do I recommend Smother? Yes, most definitely.

Smother was released on May 10 via Domino Records. Visit the band’s website for dates from their upcoming tours of the UK, Europe, the US, and Australia.