Wild Beasts – Two Dancers

I don’t know about you but time can pass us by and life can pass us by but music, well, music always seems to hold on strong. Part of me wishes I could be immersed into music all the time and part of me realizes that while that’s somewhat possible, I’m not nearly quite there yet. Still, it feels as if life is moving at such a fast pace recently that while it’s whizzing by me, the music that springs up from different corners is still incredibly great to find. The band Wild Beasts is an English-based band that has now crafted three seriously good albums. Their latest is a lighter, softer affair but their previous album, Two Dancers, was one that really stood out for me and continues to do so. And although this is during a time where so much other new 2011 music is still coming out, it’s just more proof that music is an evergoing process that never ceases – fortunately.

PLUS, I found these two awesome videos of the band performing the songs in a cool studio version live and yeah, they’re super cool.

The melodies on this album are simply something to fully take in. “The Fun Powder Plot” sets the mood with an atmospheric blend of synths before the guiding guitar creeps in. More and more layers of instruments are added to the fold before everything is left shining, sparkling around the guitar that blends in between the cracks of the music. It’s like the shimmering entity to an all-around soaring song and a stunning introduction to the album’s massive lull. Now once you get to the singer’s voice and his gentle, playful and interesting lyrics about a “booty call” and about being “left dumbfound as a donkey,” you’re either going to be entirely sucked in or left, somewhat awry. The music delves further into an immersing cage of sounds that continue to fuse with intellectual shifts and modifications: the melodies, always, driving through every new twist and direction.


After the suite of songs that are the double-bill for the album’s title comes “This is our Lot” and another attentively shimmering slice of life. Part of me wants to mention the second or even third song off the album here but it’s outstanding to find such amazing value at the end of the album. Melodies, again was the point of everything and believe me, Wild Beasts are the kind of band that are well aware of crafting flourishing melodies. Here they meld a glittered guitar part again but with the rhythmic pounding of thriving drums and the song eventually descends with a dynamic ending. An older album that I was completely dubious of two years ago, better late than never I suppose. – Bryan