Wow. How could you not admire someone like Patrick Wolf, who's not afraid to make music that is entirely his own, that embraces multiple genres without fitting into any of them? A good way to describe it maybe is: Take the uncoventional music of Radiohead, Sigur Ros, and Bjork, and toss them in a blender. Then add a whole lot of traditional Northern European instruments like viola, violin, and accordian. Then add passionate vocals that are akin to a male Bjork with a heavy English accent. What you get is something not quite folk, not quite pop, not quite electronica, but something entirely unique and mostly beautiful. His subject matter ranges from the supernatural to nature to heart-wrenching personal accounts. On the whole, I think I like this album a bit better than the first. It flows better and, unlike the first album, doesn't have any tracks that are...well...tough to listen to, such as the revealing, disturbing, hard-on-the-ears "Childcatcher" (in which I greatly respected his bravery and bluntness). "To the Lighthouse," from the first album, probably remains my favorite track of his (since it's the track that first hooked me), but "The Libertine" and the beat-driven "Tristan" blow me away and are definitely close behind. If you like traditional European folk music, unconventional pop, or heartfelt music that is completely unique, check this guy out. He deserves more attention.
Patrick Wolf sheds the hyperactive habber dash of Lycanthropy for the lush and haunting Wind in the Wires.
If you enjoyed "London" and "Demolition" from Lycanthropy you are in for a melodically madrigal treat. Patrick Wolf engages the listener with lovely lyrics that read right out of a gothic short story (from "Teignmouth") "Down to the burning cliffs/To the unrelenting roll/To marry the untold blisses/And anchor this lost soul".
He also utilizes a multitude of musical "instruments" (from the traditional violin and piano to bird calls and a horse's clip-clop). Highly recommended.
Patrick Wolf is a musical prodigy, one that few people have ever really heard of. My friend told me about him and gave me his first cd "Lyncanthropy," a wonderful blend of modern sounds and beats (with a hint of acoustic) along with Wolf's beautiful, almost untamed voice. But this cd, "Wind in the Wires," is by all means better than the more experimental "Lyncanthropy." Wolf creates a completely independent sound than anyone, mixing well-performed instrumentals, modern sounds, and a more controlled voice than the previous cd. It's downright haunting and mezmorizing when you hear it, and the best part about it is that everything is so authentic. It's the perfect mix of the modern and the classic, and it creates something refreshing for a listener to hear. Many of the songs are more downbeat than Wolf's previous cd, yet he still satisfies you with captivating lyrics, simplicity, and songwriting ability.
Songs:
1. The Libertine- 5/5; A perfect introduction to the album, showing the listener how Wolf will mix the modern and classic throughout the cd.
2. Teignmouth- 5/5; The most haunting song on the album, Wolf creates more emotion in this song than any other he has written. The beats and voice carry the entire song into a realm of complete satisfaction. The piano only live version is even better.
3. The Shadowsea- 3/5; My least favorite song on the album, one of Wolf's short song's that I just skip over whenever I listen to the cd.
4. Wind in the Wires- 4.5/5; A great song with beautiful lyrics. This is a song that will make the listener think and a key song on the cd.
5. The Railway House- 4.5/5; A good song, fun to listen to, but not enough emotion for me. The end of it is good though.
6. The Gypsy King- 4.5/5; A good song vocally and instrumentally, but not one of my favorites on the album.
7. Apparition- 4/5; A completely instrumental song that serves its purpose and creates emotion with no vocals from Wolf.
8. Ghost Song- 4/5; A good song, but its kind of annoying the first few times you listen to it. It takes getting used to.
9. This Weather- 5/5; A great song that is the epitome of the album, mixing both the classic sounds of the piano and violin and new, modern beats towards the middle of the song.
10. Jacob's Ladder- 5/5; The best short song on the album. It's just fun to listen to.
11. Tristan- 5/5; A song that makes you want to get up and dance. A fun song that shows you Wolf has now forgotten about the unruly and untamed "Lyncanthropy."
12. Eulogy- 5/5; Another great short song. It creates more emotion than most regular length mainstream songs within 1 minute.
13. Land's End/The Towans- 5/5; A great finale and finish to the cd. Fun to listen to, but towards the end of the song, "The Towans" starts to play and creates the true emotion you want to hear at the end of a cd.
By the end, you will be captivated and awe-struck. Even if you don't love this type of music, I guarantee you cannot pass up a talent like Patrick Wolf and not like his beautiful cd "Wind in the Wires."
I did a Google search for Gothic Folk music, looking for something new and in the same vein as Bat for Lashes and came across Patrick Wolf. I listened to some samples online and was very impressed, bought the CD and love it. I mainly listen to Goth music and am always on the look out for dark music. If you are a lover of dark music, I recommend this.
I knew nothing of Patrick Wolf, but a friend let me give this album a listen, and I fell in love. At first, I'd been a bit put off by his voice, sort of extreme and raw, not unlike Jeff Buckley. But, the music is amazing - dark and luxurious, unfurling and encompassing, like being caught in a storm. A little Gothic (in the true sense of the word), a little like a fairytale, there's nothing unimpressive about this music. It's definitely an experience, and one I highly recommend.
