Wolf People - Fain

Wolf People

Fain

(May 8, 2013)

Jagjaguwar 

Grade: C+

Wolf People are painfully aware of the fact that there are simply too many bands called “wolf” something, and have stated time and time again how much they dislike their moniker. To be fair, the group settled on their name just before a slew of would be “wolf” bands began to crop up back in 2010 when amature guitarists/old record enthusaist, Jack Sharp, was encouraged to name the crop of local English musicians he decided to tour with in support of the album, Steeple. It just so happened that they they couldn’t think of anything better than a reference to a children's book only a handful of people were aware of on such short notice.                    

But once you move past the uninspired name, Wolf People are a quaint 4-piece English rock band that sound like a quaint 4-piece English rock band from another decade; the late 60’s to be precise. Folk rock and blues-infused rock n’ roll influences run abound all over their sound, with just a touch of jam band sensibilities and improvisation sprinkled in for good measure. It all sounds very raw, and organic; from the crashing sounds of tape recorded drums to the fuzzy guitar riffs, and melodic noodling that wouldn’t be out of place at a Renaissance Fair. Jack Sharp’s candlelight-invoking croone, harmonies just right with the music to tie the whole thing together and saves Wolf People from sounding like just another band embracing a “retro” gimmick.

    

         The passion’s certainly there and the musicality is impressive. Wolf People subtle weave a mood on Fain that works very well on the first few tracks. “Empty Vessels”, starts with a soft, melodic ascension before bringing in the heavy bass and Richie Blackmore’ esque shredding. And the eerie, minimalistic plucking on "Returns” subtly swells into a thundering jam session, complete with chanting from the heavens.

   

         But its when the lads get too excitable in their own melodies that Fain reveals its greatest weakness; each track feels like individual song ideas thrown in haphazardly together. When it works it’s great at mood setting, taking you from crashing highs to moody, fireside lows. But when it doesn’t, songs feel like they drag on far too long with no real direction thanks to too many smaller song pieces, Frankensteined together. “When The Fire Is Dead” , “Athol” , and the colossal road to nowhere “Thief”, all make repeated listens to this album a chore unless you’re deeply entrenched in a practically inspired D&D session.

         Fain is a good album in need of some editing, or at the very least, some reigning in of Wolf People’s indulgences. Their love affair for 60’s English rock and folk leads to them showcasing some of its best elements (creative, guitar driven improvisations) while simultaneously indulging in it’s worst (self gratifying excess). 


Recommended Tracks: "Empty Vessels" , "Returns"