Album Review: Wunderhorse - 'Midas'
Wunderhorse cement their status as one of the best bands around right now with the release of ‘Midas’, an album brimming with quality.
Words scarcely cover just how eager fans have been for the release of the band’s second studio album. Since their debut offering, ‘Cub’, Wunderhorse have seen their popularity sky rocket relentlessly.
It seems apt to remember that their stunning debut came out just two years ago, with their second body of work being one of the most highly anticipated records in recent years.
‘Midas’ is opened by the title track. As one of the singles released in the run up to the album, many have come to love the song. Many more loved it long before it was even announced as a single, with the group utilising the incredible piece of music in their live shows. With its big, no-nonsense guitar riff driving the track, ‘Midas’ was always going to be a hit. As the album opener, it’s perfect: it shows off the band’s ability to nail a grunge-y sound that is packed full of angst and anger. Frontman Jacob Slater’s first display on the record is perfect, too. His raw vocals are so gripping as he works his way through the story-like verses, before erupting in the catchy choruses where the title is repeated with a healthy dose of “la la la’s”.
Perhaps the most unique part of the new record is that Wunderhorse have shown off a vast selection of the record at their gigs for quite some time… leading to a buzz that is so refreshing, with fans of the band being hooked on songs which are yet to be released!
One of these tracks which has captured attention from all angles is the third offering from ‘Midas’. This one is titled ‘Emily’, and it’s incredibly suspenseful in its verses. The instrumentation is like a spring: coiled up and full of tension, with Slater’s burning vocals adding fuel to the fire. The track comes to a head good and proper, with the full band erupting as Slater lets loose with some hard-hitting lyrics as he unleashes the words: “Bad dreams, can’t keep them out. There’s things that I don’t talk about.”
One of the key features of ‘Midas’ as a record is that it is raw. The album differs from the band’s debut ‘Cub’, moving-somewhat- away from the deeper, more psychedelic tracks heard on that initial release. This time round, the record sounds more like a live performance of rock music. This is something commented on by the frontman, Jacob Slater, who said:
“We didn’t want this record to sound perfect or polished, I didn’t even want this record to sound ‘good’, by which I mean musically proficient or well-rehearsed. This album isn’t made to impress anyone in that sense.”
This raw approach has resulted in ten mind-blowingly brilliant tracks that offer bags of quality and emotion.
One of those which is completely loose and free is the extremely well received single ‘July’. It’s safe to say that this one offers one of the heaviest moments of the album musically, with what can only be described as fat, fuzzy guitars driving the track. Slater’s vocals are filled with pain as the words he sings literally burst out of him. As the drums crash and thud, Slater belts: “Why the fuck should I keep up appearances? What’s it gonna take for you to take me serious?”
‘July’ is brimming with anger, confusion and everything in between. The band come together to create a beautifully chaotic sound. This one has already got fans throwing themselves around in free-flowing frenzies at live shows.
Amongst the big, heavy numbers, there is room for softer, acoustic tracks. ‘Superman’ is one of these which really shows off Slater and co.’s musical ability. This track is gentle in delivery, with an acoustic guitar offering the central piece of instrumentation, before a careful electric riff joins in. After a minute, the rhythm section is added and the whole band help Slater work his way through an emotional story.
The singer’s words are so emotive as he tells a story of drifting away from reality. The beauty of this one isn’t just the lyricism, although Slater does offer some brilliant imagery… the overpowering beauty can be seen (or heard) in his vocal delivery. While the frontman stated that he didn’t wish for the record to sound “good” or “well-rehearsed”, this track will certainly be appreciated for its sheer musical quality. The sincerity and open-ness of the track is just as stunning.
All-in-all, ‘Midas’ is a masterpiece. Any potential pressures regarding following up the stunning debut seem to have been non-existent. Wunderhorse are at their very best right now.
The record closes out with three of the best tracks from the entire body of work. ‘Cathedrals’, a fast-paced number that’s sure to have crowds losing themselves is perhaps the pick of the bunch.
The closing track is ‘Aeroplane’ which is driven by an acoustic guitar and kept at a slow pace throughout. It’s the perfect song to close out the spectacular album, acting as a reflectional moment.
‘Midas’ is set to bring even more eyes and ears to Wunderhorse’s direction. Their rapid rise to stardom may be accelerated even further with the release of this stunning body of work. Be sure to catch the band at one of their upcoming shows… it may well be the last time you get to see them in smaller venues before they propel towards arenas!
Words by Matthew Caslin
