Smothered in Kisses
Wild Beasts' New Record Makes a Lusty Treasure
Where the out-of-the-gate-randiness of 2009's Two
Dancers left off, Smother, the latest offering by Wild Beats, picks
up with a subdued tone. At first listen it's tempting to
immediately classify the album as 'down tempo,' even 'sad' compared
to the band's previous effort. Curb your expectations of Two
Dancers Two for a moment and you'll find tempos to quicken the
pulse buried under lush instrumentation and enchanting
vocals.
The overt sexuality of the lyrics ("Plaything", "Lion's Share") is
more Marvin Gaye than Rolling Stones and vocalists Hayden Thorpe
and Tom Flemming jockey between sultry and impish throughout the
album. Where Thorpe commands your attention from the get-go,
Flemming's baritone lays low until the third track ("Deeper"). The
vocalist focus continues in a two to one pattern (Thorpe, Thorpe,
Flemming) until they share the microphone on "Reach A Bit Further."
The result is a well paced, cooperative record.
If you're looking to conjure an intimate atmosphere or simply bask
in low light Smother is pure romance.
Wild Beasts | "Albatross" | from Smother | Domino Records
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