Wolf Alice have always been known for their edgy indie music; a sound that at times bordered on punk, littered with loud guitars, forceful percussion and sparingly, complete anger. They crafted this sound across multiple albums and EPs, touring the globe regularly to increasingly large crowds. And yet here on their new album The Clearing, it feels like the band has decidedly gone in a completely different direction. While the essence is still there, the rough edges of the English band have been blunted down to deliver a sound that will probably appeal to the masses, but might not translate as well on the festival stage.
Now 15 years deep as a band, they’ve released enough music to know what works and have developed a following that will follow them to the ends of the earth, hanging on every lyric sung by front woman Ellie Rowsell. Here on The Clearing, they’ve done away with the heavy guitars in favour of delicate licks and piano. It’s a very pretty album; aesthetically pleasing to listen to while seemingly not allowing the band to dive too deep. The Clearing feels like a maturing of Wolf Alice, almost as if they’re moving into parenthood and leaving behind their boozy, party-filled 20’s and teens. This isn’t a bad thing – change is good and needed for everyone and everything. It just feels like The Clearing is Wolf Alice looking longingly at the past not ready for what is coming next.
The album has multiple peaks and high-points spread pretty evenly throughout its 41 minute run. Opener “Thorns” feels and sounds like an ELO track, with its soaring vocals and closing minute crescendo all tied together with bliss inducing harmonies and oh-so-fleeting strings. Lead single “Bloom Baby Bloom” is as close as The Clearing gets to their earlier anger driven tracks seen on their first three albums. It’s clear why it was the first taste of the album, and will go off on stage.
The heights of the album come in the form of “Just Two Girls”, “Leaning Against the World”, “Passenger Seat”, “Bread Butter Tea Sugar” and “White Horses”, all songs of differing content and sound that allows the band to explore a new sound without fully distancing themselves from their collective DNA.
“Just Two Girls” is a loving look at sisterhood and friendship, not dissimilar in vibe to My Love is Cool’s “Bros”. It feels like the mature older sister, so much so that ”Just Two Girls” could probably be called ‘Bros 2’. “Leaning Against the Wall” has a tender country-folk tone to its front end, before picking it up over its closing half and putting Rowsell’s vocals to full work. “Passenger Seat” is a delicate sing-a-long that feels like a warm hug after a long day at work. It is sweet and calm and everything good about The Clearing. “Bread Butter Tea Sugar” feels a little wonky at times (great though), and again lean into the vibes of ELO and quite possibly a little bit of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band era The Beatles. It’s a sleeper hit-in-waiting.
The crowning moment of The Clearing is “White Horses”, featuring lead out vocals from drummer Joel Amey, before Rowsell takes over from the chorus onward. With an almost Fleetwood Mac vibe to it, “White Horses” feels like it could be a massive crossover hit for the band. While The Clearing at times doesn’t feel like the Wolf Alice we’ve come to know and love, it is eleven tracks from a band who is confident in their own abilities. A step sidewards, The Clearing will open the band up to new audiences, fans and stages on this album cycle and for years to come.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The Clearing is out now. Grab a copy HERE
Wolf Alice will be performing at Laneway Festival 2026.
They head out onto a European tour in early November, including Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Belgium the UK, Ireland and Japan. Head to their official website for dates and ticketing information.
Lead image: Rachel Fleminger Hudson
