Album Review: Wyldest - 'Monthly Friend'
Indie evolutionary, Wyldest, highlights the sentiments of femininity and womanhood with her second full-length 'Monthly Friend', which is out now via Hand In Hive.
Notably drawing influence from songwriting greats such as Elliot Smith and current alt favourites including Soccer Mommy and Hovvdy, Wyldest is the all-encompassing moniker of Zoe Mead. A combination of explorative songwriting and seemingly effortless production, 'Monthly Friend' is the self-effacing follow-up to the success of Wyldest's 2019 debut album 'Dream Chaos'.
A nod to womanhood, 'Monthly Friend', explores everything it means to be a woman, from the physicality's and advantages to the confusion and limitations. A political statement embracing societal shames that Zoe has since, for herself, turned into blessings. On the matter, Zoe has expressed that "a lot of the time, women are unfortunately subject to a similar fate. When they are young, they are sexualised and therefore their actual intellectual and creative worth can be overlooked. As they age, they get disregarded almost completely, and for what? Because they aren't as useful to men anymore? Perhaps. But why does our ability to reproduce have to dictate our worth? It doesn't and it shouldn't."
With this sophomore release, we're treated to a contemplative ten tracks delicately wrapped with an abundance of genre-bending tendencies. Opening with the single 'Beggar', Wyldest's visceral sonic footprint is evident straight off the bat, persisting for the duration of the record. The glimmer of woozy guitars layered beneath the offhand lustre of Zoe's ethereal vocal illustrates a myriad of dreamy musical landscapes. The album truly reflects Zoe's refusal to be "pinned down by genre labels or traditional categorisation". It's infectiously introspective and tastefully honest, overflowing with ingenuity. Mellow offerings such as 'Glue' and 'Burn' also articulate Zoe's shoegaze inspired inclinations, presenting swirls of hazy infatuations amidst other whimsical expressions.
Ultimately 'Monthly Friend' consummately showcases the affluence of talent that Wyldest has to offer. It's an alluring insight into the magical endeavour that is personal growth, and Wyldest is definitely one to have your radar!
Words by Jess Edwards