Patrick Wolf Album: “Lycanthropy”

Patrick Wolf kind of looks like a run-away gypsy on the album cover. And I think that fits him perfectly. Wolf's debut album, Lycanthropy, certainly manifests such a fantastic image ...

Combining acoustic instruments with hints of electronica and his darringly deep voice, Patrick sings about the mental safe havens that we create for else and the constant transformations a person goes through. Stuck somewhere between child and adult, boy and wolf, tranquility and disruption, Patrick's ballads are awe-inspiring and almost spiritual. He calls out for the protection and spritual guidance of the wolves in "Wolf Song", escapes violent raids on his home in "To the Lighthouse", confronts a child molester in "The Childcatcher" and even equalizes the two genders in "Lycanthropy". Patrick is not your typical annoyingly love-sick singer/songwriter, but a masterful bard who documents his own personal journeys and transformations in the guise of werewolves and other childhood fantasies.

The music is again, nontraditional - sounds like a bunch of gyspies congregated with earthy fiddles, accordians and ukeles while allowing Bjork to mix it all up with some amazing back beats and vibes. The song "Bloodbeat" is a perfect example of the multiplicity of the album - while one can hear the dark tones of the lyrics and appreciate the acoustics, the mixing make it almost perfect for a hippie danceclub. If you are a fan of folk music, you'll appreciate the variety of instruments and the complexity of Patrick's lyrics.

I guess this is another gold star for the U.K.. If you're a fan of such underestimated British Bands like The Auteurs and Black Box Recorder, then you'll love this album.

I had read a short review on albums, and one mentioned was this one. It had received 5 stars and intrigued me to look into it due to my interest in odd electronica styles of music. The moment I got it and began listening to it, I knew immediately that it deserved all 5 of those stars that it had originally received. Now I have the chance to pass on the wonderful glory of 5 stars in a review.

I agree with both of the previous reviewers in all their comments. It is truly a shame that more people don't know about Wolf, and now I will make a strong effort to educate people on his fascinating style. The musical creations that Wolf has formed by using many types of various unusual instruments is both soothing and relaxing yet also full of energy and has the ability to fulfill. His voice in all of the tracks fits perfectly and is strong yet emphatic. I can't accentuate enough how wonderful of a CD this is. All that I can say is to go out and pick up a copy now and listen to it yourself and you'll be able to understand why the rest of us agree that he is worth all 5 stars.

Enter a child's world where there is just as many shadows and evil do-ers as in the real world. However in Patrick Wolf's world the innocence is a painterly landscape full of poetry and flowing sounds.

It's easy to become seduced by the whimsical approach to the song-writing - the songs work at building a world which sounds as tiny and secure as a child's bed to the sounds of roaming wolves and the dark outside world!

This album - is incredible in it's breadth of sounds - it is so well produced and given so much light and shade in it's render.

Experience a pop experimenter who always seems painfully honest in every chord sung.

This album sounds like it was made by Kate Bush's youngest brother - inspiring and lyrical!