Album Review: The Wombats - 'Fix Yourself, Not The World'
The Wombats have always fused fun with frantic pop, and new album ‘Fix Yourself, Not The World’ continues in the same way.
Singer Murph, bassist Tord and drummer Dan have been a reliable source of energy for a decade and a half now. This new release is their guide to the present and the future. A variety of producers were involved in the trans-continental creation, including Jacknife Lee, who continually works with big bands on big records. Ginormous things are to be expected, and are delivered.
Opener ‘Flip Me Upside Down’ is a pounding addition to the trio’s knack for arena-ready songs. Murph sings: “I just hope that I don’t ruin this, getting too fucked up to remember it.” The momentum into the title line - “You flip me upside down” – carries the band to the highest highs.
It’s an old mixtape cliché to start big and go bigger, but ‘This Car Drives All By Itself’ is genuinely more energetic. Driving rock for a futuristic era, the musing on automated vehicles feels prevalent to the here and now. The epic refrain “The kids aren’t wrong this time” will rightfully echo around festivals this summer, and for eternity.
Last year’s singles ‘If You Ever Leave, I’m Coming With You’ and ‘Ready For The High’ follow it back-to-back; more melodies and choruses which The Wombats are experts at.
After the high tempo opening, ‘Method To The Madness’ is slower, a cathartic respite, at least until a chaotic instrumental builds up, and encapsulates the trio’s on-stage power.
Four years after their last record, an obligatory quarantine reference collides with Icarus in The Cure-like ‘Everything I Love Is Going To Die’. Meanwhile, wise advice for a zoo visit makes ‘Don’t Poke The Bear’ reminiscent of past Wombats moments, adding some light relief to the album’s darker lyrics.
‘Worry’ is a highlight to usher the record to its close. The kind of dancey Wombats indie-pop fans have grown accustomed to, it stands strong with their art of repetition - “It’s not, it’s not, it’s not paranoia if it’s really there”.
A short, echoey, closing track makes a peaceful exit to an album that’s been anything but.
It feels like The Wombats have been everywhere in the 15 years since their debut record. It’s hard to believe this is only album five. They’ve always been big, but maybe not this big. It should be strong enough to garner new audiences, and one to relish for those who have been there throughout. Whatever their process is, The Wombats are working.
Words by Samuel Draper
