Wunderhorse’s latest offering is finally here. Two years on from their debut, the band serve up something fresher and bolder. With renewed vigour taking shape, Midas is the meat at the centre of the feast. Alice Beard explores this evolution in form…
Bringing forth the most volatile elements from its predecessor, Midas is Cub’s younger, angrier sibling. Advancing from the shadows of Jacob Slater’s previous solo project, this new pursuit projects the finest element of the band in their entirety- so it makes sense that this natural progression has taken a step into wider, murkier territories.
There’s no doubt this offering is bigger and beefier than previously pursued. It hurtles straight in with the aspiration of making itself known. The album contains newfound confidence and swagger within its mannerisms. The opener and title track, immediately followed up by Rain, sets us up for a ride which proves more than suitably enjoyable from the outset. In many ways, some of the tracks off this album feel like they could be the pumped-up companions of Fontaines D.C. circa A Heroes Death. Driven heavily by biting guitar riffs and Slater’s unforgiving wailing vocal cornerstones, it wastes no time in painting a dark and disorderly picture.
"Midas is Cub’s younger, angrier sibling"
I do miss the eerier, haunting elements we received with their debut, contained within tracks such as Butterflies and Mantis. The main charm and appeal of Cub was the overwhelming sensation of anticipation, the subtlety concealing what was waiting to come out and bite you in pieces like Epilogue. That being said, this was probably one of the albums as of late that I’ve most anticipated hearing in full- mainly because I knew it was guaranteed to be a satisfying, easy- listening piece. The journey felt easy to predict through their well- curated single releases prior to the full LP reveal, and it’s a feeling I am grateful for. The switch up is pleasant and surprising in the manner in which it never catches you too off guard. Where Cub was clean and contained, this is something untamed and unafraid. There is still that lingering sensation of something lurking beneath- just perhaps in lower dosages this time.
Those more tormented, pensive moments throughout the album are well balanced and provide some flowery embellishments to offset the gloom and disarray. Emily and Arizona, for example, take heed at a slower pace. There is more time to consider and more room to breathe- yet still a grittiness running through the core, crafting a grounding familiarity which aids the overall cohesion of the LP. This is what shines through on this offering. Taking a healthy step back and observing the bigger picture, it really is a well- put together, stylistic composition of grander proportion than its predecessor. The isolated elements may appear simple upon first inspection, but the integration of such elements is what has made this creation a fulfilling and worthwhile journey.
Tracks like Superman and Cathedrals similarly exude rawness, continuing a constant dispute between hope and the abrasion of doubt. Finishing it all off with the lighter, sleepier Aeroplane it feels an appropriate dial down from such an intensely defiant stretch of work. Floating along at eight minutes long, it’s a reminder that there is still some peace swirling within the pain.
Part of me feels as though this album would’ve done more for me had it been released when I was sixteen- maybe it's those more unrefined elements which help play into such feelings of nostalgia. But that doesn’t mean it's an album without its merits. I feel quite the opposite in fact. It is undoubtedly a strong progression and an album I will likely sit and listen to on repeat more times than I probably wish to count. There are some equally tender and tortured moments within this album which only serve as reminders of Slater’s established abilities as a refined and perceptive storyteller. Taking their steps as a fully cemented band now, Wunderhorse seem to know exactly how to direct their energies. I’m excited to see where their next endeavours carry them.
Alice Beard
Edited by Alice Beard
Official Midas album cover courtesy of Wunderhorse, image courtesy of Alice Beard, video courtesy of Wunderhorse on Youtube
Comments