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Wolf Alice|The Clearing

The Clearing by Wolf Alice

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For a band that has been willing to tinker with textures and timbre throughout their career, it's obviously a gambit for Wolf Alice to so plainly position their fourth album as one dedicated to the joys of big, burly, straightforward rock 'n' roll. Of course, Ellie Rowsell's vocal pipes have been begging to be opened up full-throttle ever since the 2014 single "Moaning Lisa Smile" showed just how much of a force she was to contend with, and the riffs of guitarist Joff Oddie have always been as maximalist as they have been elegant. What's curious though, is that after the opening fusillade of "Thorns" and "Bloom Baby Bloom," The Clearing reveals itself as decidedly content to settle into a midtempo rut. To be sure, it's a rockist rut—'70s FM vibes abound—but for more than half of its running time, The Clearing is notably light on arena bombast. "Just Two Girls" edges a bit uncomfortably close to the sound of a tossed-off Paramore ballad, and it's followed immediately by the much more interesting "Leaning Against the Wall," which is as dreamily psychedelic as it is country-tinged. By the time the spare, piano-forward melancholy of "Play It Out" finishes and leads into the Queen-esque stomp of "Bread Butter Tea Sugar," one may think that the speed is going to pick up again, but it does not, at least not until the quirky, slightly funky penultimate track, "White Horses." While The Clearing may not be the “Big Rock Album” it's being touted to be, it does benefit from a focused and direct songwriting approach. In fact, the best (and most interesting) song here may well be the gentlest; the absolutely gorgeous "Midnight Song" channels Zeppelin-by-way-of-Heart acoustic guitars and harmonies with delicate and artful structure that's both sturdy and sublime. The track proves that "rock" can mean a lot of different things to different people, and it also reminds that Wolf Alice remains one of the most interesting bands around, even when they pretend like they're trying to be big and dumb. © Jason Ferguson/Qobuz

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The Clearing

Wolf Alice

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1
Thorns
00:03:14

Charlie Bisharat, Violin - Greg Kurstin, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Percussion, Piano, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixing Engineer - Songa Lee, Violin - Charles Tyler, Cello - Zach Dellinger, Viola - Theo Ellis, Composer, Lyricist, Bass - Joel Amey, Composer, Lyricist, Drums, Vocal - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer - Wolf Alice, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Oddie, Composer, Lyricist - Jacob Braun, Cello - Matt Tuggle, Recording Engineer - Ellie Rowsell, Composer, Lyricist, Synthesizer, Vocal - Joff Oddie, Guitar - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixing Engineer

(P) 2025 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, and RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, under exclusive license from Wolf Alice.

2
Bloom Baby Bloom Explicit
00:03:47

Greg Kurstin, Producer, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, Moog - Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixing Engineer - Theo Ellis, Composer, Lyricist, Bass - Joel Amey, Composer, Lyricist, Drums - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer - Wolf Alice, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Oddie, Composer, Lyricist - Matt Tuggle, Recording Engineer - Ellie Rowsell, Composer, Lyricist, Piano, Vocal - Joff Oddie, Guitar - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixing Engineer

(P) 2025 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, and RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, under exclusive license from Wolf Alice.

3
Just Two Girls Explicit
00:03:49

Greg Kurstin, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Percussion, Piano, Recording Engineer, Strings, Mellotron - Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixing Engineer - Theo Ellis, Composer, Lyricist, Bass - Joel Amey, Composer, Lyricist, Drums - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer - Wolf Alice, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Oddie, Composer, Lyricist - Matt Tuggle, Recording Engineer - Ellie Rowsell, Composer, Lyricist, Vocal - Joff Oddie, Guitar - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixing Engineer

(P) 2025 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, and RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, under exclusive license from Wolf Alice.

4
Leaning Against The Wall
00:04:11

Greg Kurstin, Producer, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer - Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixing Engineer - Theo Ellis, Composer, Lyricist, Piano, Bass, Background Vocal - Joel Amey, Composer, Lyricist, Drums, Synthesizer, Background Vocal - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer - Wolf Alice, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Oddie, Composer, Lyricist - Matt Tuggle, Recording Engineer - Ellie Rowsell, Composer, Lyricist, Programmer, Vocal - Joff Oddie, Guitar, Background Vocal - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixing Engineer

(P) 2025 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, and RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, under exclusive license from Wolf Alice.

5
Passenger Seat
00:02:52

Greg Kurstin, Producer, Percussion, Piano, Recording Engineer - Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixing Engineer - Theo Ellis, Composer, Lyricist, Bass - Joel Amey, Composer, Lyricist, Drums, Background Vocal - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer - Wolf Alice, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Oddie, Composer, Lyricist - Matt Tuggle, Recording Engineer - Ellie Rowsell, Composer, Lyricist, Vocal - Joff Oddie, Guitar - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixing Engineer

(P) 2025 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, and RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, under exclusive license from Wolf Alice.

6
Play It Out Explicit
00:04:11

Charlie Bisharat, Violin - Greg Kurstin, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixing Engineer - Songa Lee, Violin - Charles Tyler, Cello - Zach Dellinger, Viola - Theo Ellis, Composer, Lyricist, Bass - Joel Amey, Composer, Lyricist, Drums - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer - Wolf Alice, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Oddie, Composer, Lyricist - Jacob Braun, Cello - Matt Tuggle, Recording Engineer - Ellie Rowsell, Composer, Lyricist, Piano, Vocal - Joff Oddie, Guitar, Programmer - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixing Engineer

(P) 2025 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, and RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, under exclusive license from Wolf Alice.

7
Bread Butter Tea Sugar
00:03:28

Charlie Bisharat, Violin - Greg Kurstin, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer - Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixing Engineer - Songa Lee, Violin - Charles Tyler, Cello - Zach Dellinger, Viola - Theo Ellis, Composer, Lyricist, Bass - Joel Amey, Composer, Lyricist, Drums, Vocal - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer - Wolf Alice, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Oddie, Composer, Lyricist - Jacob Braun, Cello - Matt Tuggle, Recording Engineer - Ellie Rowsell, Composer, Lyricist, Piano, Programmer, Vocal - Joff Oddie, Guitar - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixing Engineer

(P) 2025 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, and RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, under exclusive license from Wolf Alice.

8
Safe in the World
00:03:31

Charlie Bisharat, Violin - Greg Kurstin, Producer, Arranger, Piano, Recording Engineer, Mellotron - Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixing Engineer - Songa Lee, Violin - Charles Tyler, Cello - Zach Dellinger, Viola - Theo Ellis, Composer, Lyricist, Bass - Joel Amey, Composer, Lyricist, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer - Wolf Alice, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Oddie, Composer, Lyricist - Jacob Braun, Cello - Matt Tuggle, Recording Engineer - Ellie Rowsell, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar, Vocal - Joff Oddie, Guitar - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixing Engineer

(P) 2025 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, and RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, under exclusive license from Wolf Alice.

9
Midnight Song
00:02:50

Charlie Bisharat, Violin - Greg Kurstin, Producer, Arranger, Recording Engineer - Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixing Engineer - Songa Lee, Violin - Charles Tyler, Cello - Zach Dellinger, Viola - Theo Ellis, Composer, Lyricist, Bass - Joel Amey, Composer, Lyricist, Drums, Percussion - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer - Wolf Alice, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Oddie, Composer, Lyricist - Jacob Braun, Cello - Matt Tuggle, Recording Engineer - Ellie Rowsell, Composer, Lyricist, Vocal - Joff Oddie, Guitar - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixing Engineer

(P) 2025 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, and RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, under exclusive license from Wolf Alice.

10
White Horses
00:04:29

Greg Kurstin, Producer, Recording Engineer - Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixing Engineer - Theo Ellis, Composer, Lyricist, Bass - Joel Amey, Composer, Lyricist, Drums, Guitar, Vocal - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer - Wolf Alice, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Oddie, Composer, Lyricist - Matt Tuggle, Recording Engineer - Ellie Rowsell, Composer, Lyricist, Vocal - Joff Oddie, Guitar, Programmer - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixing Engineer

(P) 2025 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, and RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, under exclusive license from Wolf Alice.

11
The Sofa Explicit
00:04:26

Charlie Bisharat, Violin - Greg Kurstin, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Percussion, Piano, Recording Engineer - Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixing Engineer - Songa Lee, Violin - Charles Tyler, Cello - Zach Dellinger, Viola - Theo Ellis, Composer, Lyricist, Bass - Joel Amey, Composer, Lyricist, Drums, Background Vocal - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer - Wolf Alice, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Oddie, Composer, Lyricist - Jacob Braun, Cello - Matt Tuggle, Recording Engineer - Ellie Rowsell, Composer, Lyricist, Flute, Programmer, Strings, Vocal - Joff Oddie, Guitar - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixing Engineer

(P) 2025 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, and RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, under exclusive license from Wolf Alice.

Album Review: The Clearing - Wolf Alice

For a band that has been willing to tinker with textures and timbre throughout their career, it's obviously a gambit for Wolf Alice to so plainly position their fourth album as one dedicated to the joys of big, burly, straightforward rock 'n' roll. Of course, Ellie Rowsell's vocal pipes have been begging to be opened up full-throttle ever since the 2014 single "Moaning Lisa Smile" showed just how much of a force she was to contend with, and the riffs of guitarist Joff Oddie have always been as maximalist as they have been elegant. What's curious though, is that after the opening fusillade of "Thorns" and "Bloom Baby Bloom," The Clearing reveals itself as decidedly content to settle into a midtempo rut. To be sure, it's a rockist rut—'70s FM vibes abound—but for more than half of its running time, The Clearing is notably light on arena bombast. "Just Two Girls" edges a bit uncomfortably close to the sound of a tossed-off Paramore ballad, and it's followed immediately by the much more interesting "Leaning Against the Wall," which is as dreamily psychedelic as it is country-tinged. By the time the spare, piano-forward melancholy of "Play It Out" finishes and leads into the Queen-esque stomp of "Bread Butter Tea Sugar," one may think that the speed is going to pick up again, but it does not, at least not until the quirky, slightly funky penultimate track, "White Horses." While The Clearing may not be the “Big Rock Album” it's being touted to be, it does benefit from a focused and direct songwriting approach. In fact, the best (and most interesting) song here may well be the gentlest; the absolutely gorgeous "Midnight Song" channels Zeppelin-by-way-of-Heart acoustic guitars and harmonies with delicate and artful structure that's both sturdy and sublime. The track proves that "rock" can mean a lot of different things to different people, and it also reminds that Wolf Alice remains one of the most interesting bands around, even when they pretend like they're trying to be big and dumb. © Jason Ferguson/Qobuz

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(P) 2025 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, and RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, under exclusive license from Wolf Alice.

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