Wild Beasts - Limbo Panto

i like!

singing on the far side of moz/rufus wainwright overwrought + clever arranging + airy, echoey production

Prefered their first demos CD. The production on the album is a little off.

heh Enrique indiesnob! ;)

one of my favourite releases of this year. it's really something else. hate the singer's moustache though.

v interesting! sounds like morrissey + scott walker + other things i cant put my finger on. 2 songs in

[i suppose k3vin k and myself found this via the quietus eoy list?]. yeah, this is a terrific album. not all the songs are great but at least they don't sound like every other UK indie band. the vocals remind me of antony and russell mael. the lyrics are terrific - weird and fatalistic.

This is pure pleasure to listen to.

Word is the new one is meant to be even better.

First single:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/video/2009/jun/17/wild-beasts-hooting-howling

Starts quite promisingly, turned it off before the end. STOP REPEATING THE SONG-TITLE AD NAUSEAM IT IS A GROSS AND STUPID HABIT

Also, that riff gets very irritating.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VNHsk82pL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

Kinda looking forward to hearing this. Wasn't sure about the first one, quite liked the Billy Mackenzie-isms, but thought the music could have been a bit more ambitious to match. Having said that, have hammered 'His Grinning Skull' to death, which I guess is as bog-standard indie as they come, sonics-wise.

Am really enjoying the new one.

The production is lovely. The guitars are kinda reminiscent of the slower numbers on Foals' Antidotes. At least to my ears.

wow that was really good

Wonderful album. Probably going to be up there as best British album of the year unless something unexpected pops up.

a new one already? wow that's fast. looking forward to it.

New one would appear to be streaming via the NME:

http://www.nme.com/news/wild-beasts--2/46335

This is all very pleasant and even harmonious to listen to (track 4 especially) but I doubt I'll be returning much to it.

"two dancers ii" and "all the king's men" are WONDERFUL.

"all the king's men" was quite good I guess and there was one near the end I liked too but hmm.

"two dancers ii" and "all the king's men" are WONDERFUL.

Just listening now. These are both Tommy songs aren't they? He had the best two on the first album as well IMO (Devil's Crayon and His Grinning Skull).

ok this is batshit insane, kudos!

they've never made anything better than "brave bulging buoyant clairvoyants" and this new stuff sounds like the younger brothers of the guillemots

yeah but i like the guillemots

funny how this band suffers from XTC-syndrome. quirky so-called "lead" singer overshadowed by bassists better songwriting!

loving "two dancers"

wow you guys could give two shits about this band. i'm freaking out over here.

This gets better with repeat listens. Last two tracks especially good. Maintain that 'The Old Dog' from the first album is their best song.

It's brilliant. Stunning. Uber. only went in at 68 on album charts :-(

"Hooting & Howling" still irritates me. "When I'm Sleepy" is a beautiful little song that deserves to be 3x as long as it is. Rest is growing, as I say.

the last track is truly a remarkable thing

yar it is pretty awes

Just got it yesterday. Am liking the first few songs, then it all seems to fizzle out a bit. I want to like it though, am hoping all will be revealed over time.

second side is a grower.

second side better than the first

from the title track (two dancers i and ii) until the end

shit this gets exponentially better with every listen, 'this is our lot' being the new discovery

also the reason it only got to no. 68 in the chance? Begins with S, ends with y, and has 'potif' in the middle.

Charts, even. o_O

they don't sound similar to much else out there, besides certain lapses into early U2 guitar jangle. i think "this is our lot" mostly does this.

i loved the hell out of the first one, keep forgetting to pick this up!

Cutty, I know what you mean about U2, it's been reminding me of that 80s stadium rock thing too. Sounds a bit like Interpol too in parts. These are the bits I'm shying away from at the moment tbh.

despite being a jammy bastard and getting a promo of this a while back, had to go buy it on vinyl too. i cant quite put my finger on why i like it so much and reason tells me i should be a bit bored of it by now. but i'm not. pitchfork better give it mad props.

who cares what pitchfork says

well i hope they give it a good review for the bands benefit and because a lot more people would love it if it got some nice U.S. based press.

hurrah. 8.4 and a best new music. works for me.

everything u wanted bro

Kinda irks me that the PF review says they're from Leeds.

Leeds is 100 miles from Kendal (where they're actually from).

We Still Got The Taste Dancin' On Our Tongues was absolutely *phenomenal* live, and the rest wasn't far behind (This Is Our Lot being maybe the pick)

going to see them tonight.

...and this was in a big tent, with festival production values. my friend said that this was 'really good, and maybe about half as good as when i saw them at a club' so you're in for a treat! although they didn't play 'through the iron gate' or 'the old dog'. ah well. 'hooting & howling' grows on me every time i hear it btw

also i was not expecting the two singers to exchange lead/backing parts, electric/bass guitar and keys with such unpredictable dexterity

Going to see them next month. I only recently bought a ticket after they'd been on sale for a few weeks and I still got given ticket number 001. No pushing at the front please.

"Hooting & Howling" still irritates me.

Saw this video yesterday. Singer's voice is rather yelp-y.

h&h is amaaaaaaaaazing.

they are so good at arranging!

i prefer limbo panto (the new one's a bit too smooth) altho h&h and a few others are great.

ok, this was fucking brilliant. and i totally did not expect to be blown away by the non-singing guitar player. dude is THE EDGE for real. he was too loud in the mix but it didn't matter, he holds everything together so nicely.

the whole interplay between the band is really interesting. all types of finger picking syncopation, and the drummer just really kills it.

i expected them to be better dressed, though? they aren't as fancy as they initially come off as.

Yeah, they do favour the farmhand-at-a-job-interview look don't they?

the show solidified my belief that this band is something special. not just some "look at how weird we are" affair.

was disappointed they didn't play two dancers i-ii though

yay it hit emusic!

yay it hit emusic!

It did? Did it un-hit again?

Each time I listen to Two Dancers, I'm more impressed. I think Cutty's on to something: there is something special here, and whatever they're doing isn't just trying to be different for the sake of it but stems from a really fucking smart songwriting set-up. They're playing Glasgow next Tuesday, too. Hmm.

go see them!

It's sorted: I'm reviewing them :)

Paper Planes supporting, too ... plus Blue Roses, about whom I know fuck all.

it's funny all my favorite albums this year have flown under the ILX radar. wild beasts, why?, the big pink, the maccabees...

Holy shit.

Trying to write a review now. Not sure I can adequately express my dropped-jaw astonishment, though. Thanks, Cutty: I probably wouldn't have gone if it hadn't been for you, and that would have meant missing certainly the best gig I've seen this year, and one of the best I can remember ... er, ever, really.

Fuck me, what a band.

!

awesome.

It's the drumming live that's revelatory ... I actually don't think Two Dancers captures that at all. Fucking incredible: so heavy, so delicate. At one point I thought there must be an extra percussionist I couldn't see.

And I'm a sucker for heavy-duty instrument-swapping, too.

At one point I thought there must be an extra percussionist I couldn't see.

yeah, his parts are pretty complex for being so minimal and repetitive

I'm intrigued. Despite the lead singer's voice (which kind of grates on me), I'm going to download it.

he isn't the lead singer btw--i feel like all their press releases give that wrong impression. nor is the other singer the "bass player"

it's funny with this band, so many things become more apparent when you see them live

They not going to play South Florida, I'd guess (not a popular rock venue).

it's funny with this band, so many things become more apparent when you see them live

― cutty, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 13:45 (4 minutes ago) Bookmark

^^^

The Associates/Billy Mackenzie mailing list has been going nuts over these folks.

Yes, absolutely. I mean, Two Dancers has grown on me massively but live they're something else entirely ... I listened to TD again this morning while I was writing my review and there were a couple of points where I was actually a bit disappointed: "Woah, hang on, this was so much better last night." Put it this way: while I think it's a fine album, I wouldn't be able to use it to support all my hyperbole about how good they are live.

xpost Yeh, I can see why. I mentioned the Associates in my review -- Scottish paper, natch -- but (like The XX) you could cite any number of influences or similarities and still not nail it. To me -- and I don't think many people will agree, but fuck it -- there's a lot of (mid-eighties) Wire in there, for instance.

they also remind me of (and sit right next to on my iPod) the US band wilderness. it's the glacial guitars and the drumming.

they also remind me of (and sit right next to on my iPod) the US band wilderness.

That's a comparison I can get excited about! (I like Wilderness -- a lot).

I love Wilderness but they don't necessarily sound close to them from what I've heard. At least I don't remember thinking Wilderness when I did hear portions of it.

listen to both again and think about it

huh you guys are right. this is pretty good. not sure about the falsetto dude tho.

I'm becoming obsessed with this album (Two Dancers; not even heard Limbo Panto yet!) The more I listen, the more it reveals. The rhyming of "Shipley" and "Whitby" is a particular joy.

Still the best thing they've done IMO:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khm7bVSYa98

my album of the year

Just got back from touring with these chaps for a forthcoming Uncut feature and, yes, seeing them live completely transformed my sense of the songs. They very much appreciated your Herald review, Grimly!

link to grimly's review plz

They very much appreciated your Herald review, Grimly!

Oh, hey, nice one! I don't feel I really did them justice in 280w -- I wish I'd talked more about the lyrics, for a start -- but I'm delighted about that.

I'd happily link to it if it seemed to be online, Cutty: our shiny new website seems to be missing, umm, a fortnight's worth of music reviews. Suffice to say it was just under 300 words of "Late to the party here but fuck me, this lot are transcendentally awesome, and you should have gone to see them too".

I'm cross about this lack of reviews online, actually. I'm going to send a cross e-mail. WOO, that'll show 'em.

Thanks for the video link, NickB -- yeah, that's pretty sharp.

type out the review, then.

Cutty actually wants Grimly to call him and read him the review.

280w fuck

http://wildbeastshoxton.dominorecordco.com/

grateful for this as they did not play two dancers (i) when i saw them

well this really is just one hell of a record. and i get to see them play in uh february.

cooler-than-i-am ppl keep saying to me "what, that band that sound like franz ferdinand"

which is confusing the hell out of me tbh, did the first one sound really different to two dancers or are these people not listening with their ears

the first one sounds even less like franz

no, "bulging clairvoyants" or whatever it is called has a bit of franz rock-disco-stomp to it. but that's about it.

easily my fave indie/rock album of the last few years. typical that the crits are all in a lather over the *new* album which seems to be the same kind of cake but with less interesting ingredients.

i don't think it's less interesting. it's less wacky, more subtle, and that's what makes it better.

They're the first band I can remember that have made my album of the year two years in a row.

At first I was disappointed with Two Dancers, I missed the pomp from Limbo Panto but it's one hell of a grower.

tonight!

well that was fuckin' awesome.

and they played both "two dancers" parts so suck it cutty ;)

glad 4 u

why should i suck it?

grateful for this as they did not play two dancers (i) when i saw them

― cutty, Wednesday, October 21, 2009 7:38 PM (4 months ago) Bookmark

yes, the live video had a song i didn't get to see live, but wanted to see. why should i suck it?

why the hostility

why

aww, no hostility for you cutts. it was a suggestion that you suck it with love.

<object width="424" height="421"><param name="movie" value="http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb100209wild_beasts/embed-video";></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb100209wild_beasts/embed-video"; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="424" height="421"></embed></object>

oh pisces u moron.

anyway it's here =
http://drownedinsound.com/news/4139319-watch--wild-beasts-kcrw-session
a 7 song KCRW session live on film. turns out they're bloody brilliant live. also some excellent chatter between songs which has made me love them *even* more.

saw them again when they were in brooklyn last week. they played two dancers i and ii. and they are still fucking brilliant.

love watching them pluck their guitars. so much sound coming out of the four of them live.

glad you saw both two dancers!

i'll have to watch that session. they seemed like really nice guys when i saw them; it was a small but extremely enthusiastic crowd and it seemed like they were genuinely surprised and grateful.

they dress funny

yeah they have weird haircuts too--i was like are these guys gonna be pretentious but then they were really sweet

mother fuck.

just idly checked into these guys' tour schedule, apparently they played mpls a month ago.

getting dragged to these guys tomorrow night so i figured id check out the album (from what id heard it sounded like something id not really be into, but what i heard really was wrong)

yr gonna like it

lucky you!

so are they kickass live then?

see me, about a month ago, in this thread

you really just say that they have weird haircuts and that they play both versions of the same song(?)

thats not the same song

just realised that i have been listening to some remix of the dancing tongues song for months

well that was fuckin' awesome.
well that was fuckin' awesome.
well that was fuckin' awesome.
well that was fuckin' awesome.
well that was fuckin' awesome.

so they're kinda like the chameleons?

anyway i like their sound, its kinda noirish, detailed but not busy, widescreen but not pompous, and shit can dude sing really, or is their two singers (cos that is range otherwise)

imagine the smiths doing a bunch of talking heads pastiches, if morrissey's voice were an octave higher. maybe.

there are two singers but i can't work out which is which!

really?

it's pretty obvious? there is the falsetto guy then the deeper voice

the falsetto sounds like... the falsetto of the deeper voice. i just figured the guy had range. *shrugs*

wait on two dancers ii you can hear them at the same time, kinda dont like the falsetto guy

¡omg!

Sadly they are not like The Chameleons.

I've been enjoying 'Wild Beasts' a lot recently though and I'm surprised there's been so little talk of it on ILM. It's an interesting album that definitely rewards repeated listens. At first I thought a lot of the songs ended quite prematurely without really building into anything but the more I've listened the more I've appreciated the restrained economy at play. The album sounds lush in terms of atmosphere. I know its maybe only a matter of them being contemporaries but I hear a lot of similarities to the sound of the XX LP. They're playing Primavera this summer and after watching some live performances on YouTube I'm keen to check them out. The earlier remarks about the drums being far more prominent live seem to be the case. It's a shame the drums on the album lack a bit of the punch they seem to have live. Still, good stuff I say. Took my ears a while to warm to the vocals though.

Sadly they are not like The Chameleons.

Nope, but they share a certain vibe with The Associates.

ILM's gusto for these guys is well-placed, I picked up their two albums and there's a few songs that grabbed me immediately but others were slow burns but the hooks stayed in my head. Well done!

I've read a lot of things comparing them to The Associates but I've never really heard them express any interest themselves, I know they are massive Junior boys fans.

My friend said I would love them pitching them as a mix of The Associates and Sparks who are two of my five favourite bands ever. I was really disappointed when I checked out a few of their early singles but he then convinced me by putting The Old Dog on a compilation which after a few listens I totally fell in love with. It was a perfect choice as it's one of the slow burners that I kept going back to. I bought the album straight away and I couldn't believe I had ever dismissed them, especially his vocals.

I can't think of any new bands from the last couple of years that I love anywhere near as much. The way they brought out a second album that was so perfect so quickly is just an amazing achievement.

I also think they sound a bit like Climate of Hunter. One thing I didn't expect going to see them was that the guy with the deep voice would be such a boner-inducer, also how overheated and groin-thrusting their basslines were gonna sound. Falsetto guy's voice comes across a million times better live, and the drummer really owns it, amazingly different textures by the drummer all the time, its like third to last song and he start wailin on the cowbells, last one all of a sudden he's playing with malletts. Also the really dreeaammy guitar parts that are like all trancey and synthy and the parts where the film flies off the sprockets for just a second before they're right back on the beat, face forward. Comparing them to XX misses out on how melodramatic, how swoony camp and terrifying they can sound. Good band!

his dancing cock down by his knees

A reference to this song:

http://www.jakethackray.com/songs/the-lyrics-and-guitar-tabs/110-the-bull

indeed.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l44q5qgNog1qbr7sio1_400.gif

http://www.paddypower.com/bet/novelty-betting/music/mercury-music-prize

Come on boys!

They deserve to win it but I just can't see the prize not going to The XX.

remix EP streaming
as expected, gorgeous treatment by Junior Boys

'Smother' out in May. So excited

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vf6oNalJ_8

^ Not many clues to be had from the trailer

I'm looking forward to this, I still love both the albums. I'm hoping they bring some of the pomp back from Limbo Panto.

Mm yeah me too.

that just gave me the chills

Such a good band, can't wait for this new one. Two Dancers was probably my most played record of last year.

new single 'Albatross's first play, from last night's Radio 1 Zane Lowe show
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00z1rh8 @ 0.29

29 minutes in i mean

The new single is very pretty but I wasn't blown away. I was disappointed with Two Dancers the first few times I heard it so maybe this will grow on me too.

Soundcloud link:
http://soundcloud.com/1ftp/wild-beasts-albatross

Hmmm, not nuts about that tbh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDlnbZ2_aSU

^ acoustic versions of three songs off Smother btw. Anyone heard the real thing yet?

It's streaming here...

http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/utr/more/NID/3404/Album-preview-Wild-Beasts---Smother.utr

Well, would you look at that. Thanks BH

I will do the old fashioned thing for this one and wait for the physical thing next week. Surprised by the lack of excitement around here.

I saw them live last week-- first show as a five-piece, first show with the new material. It was reserved but really lovely.

they're a five-piece now? what does the new one do?

I've listened to Smother a couple of times. My first impressions are it's a lovely record but not much of a development from Two Dancers. The production is really incredible but a few of the tracks are too similar to songs on the last album, especially the drum patterns on a few songs. As I said earlier on this thread I was hoping they would bring put some of the pomp from Limbo Panto, well it seems like that's just not going to happen now. My favourite Wild Beasts songs are still Brave Bulging, Devils Crayon and Woebegone Wanderers, those songs seem like a different band to the one they have become. I do think this album will grow like the last one did I just have to accept they are a different and perhaps more sensible band now.

constantly surprised that ILM doesn't give much of a hoot about them. can't wait to hear the new album.

and yeah the band that made Woebegone Wanderers and Club Of Fathomless Love; *that's* the Wild Beasts i love.

@thomp mostly she plays a Juno-D?
The drum parts on all the new songs are mechanical, as if they were designed by a drum machine. Fills are fills of omission rather than elaboration. I really liked it, I would listen to Smother online but I don't like "streaming"

Oh, she (the new member) mentioned too she was from another band, but I'll need a moment to remember

and yeah the band that made Woebegone Wanderers and Club Of Fathomless Love; *that's* the Wild Beasts i love.

― piscesx

I'm a big fan of their second single "Assembly" which is maybe their most ridiculous moment and wasn't even on Limbo. My friend met the singer a while back and asked why don't they ever play it live, he said they've actually forgotten how to play a lot of thier earlier songs. I wouldn't be surprised if on their next tour they don't really play anything from the first era. I can't really see how those songs would fit in to the sound they go for now.

listening to the stream

so good!

I'm quietly anticipating this.

'Two Dancers part II' would suit me just fine (loved "Albatross" already)

general all round very positive reviews from the UK at least
http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/3023/Wild-Beasts-Smother.aspx

Okay just like Two Dancers this has grown on me a lot after a few plays. It's a really beautiful record and they really are one of the best bands out there.

thx own

ppl who are listening to this record, does it have a game-changer on it like two dancers i & ii was in the middle of the last record? or does it just kind of do its thing?

It's subtle, low-key and very much of a specific mood.

I read them describe Two Dancers as a night out and Smother as pillow talk.

In tone it's similar to a record like Yo La Tengo's And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out IMO.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/79/18294_158867.jpg

Smother is the upcoming and third studio album by British indie rock band Wild Beasts. The album will be released on May 10, 2011 on Domino.

Track listing:

1. Lion's Share - 4:14
2. Bed of Nails - 4:18
3. Deeper - 3:01
4. Loop the Loop - 4:06
5. Plaything - 4:21
6. Invisible - 2:58
7. Albatross - 3:12
8. Reach a Bit Further - 3:36
9. Burning - 4:44
10. End Come Too Soon - 7:32

Ah yes, the new member is Katie from Sky Larkin.

I'm surprised how much I love Albatross now, I was so underwhelmed the first few times I heard it. It really works in the context of the album and but not as a single. I think the record company will struggle to find any singles on the album this time.

Loop the Loop is my favourite song at the moment, one of the best things they've done. Also really liking Burning, it reminds me of something Bjork might come up with.

Loving this so far. "Loop the Loop" is my fave for the moment but I'm pretty sure this is the kind of album where each song will be a fave at one point or the other. I'm hearing a bit of Junior Boys in the slinky sound they've perfected.

That was my first thought too - interviewed them a couple of years ago, and the one album they all agreed on was Junior Boys. Smother has really grown on me last couple of weeks - wish there were more Tom tracks, though: "Invisible" is stellar.

yeah and I guess the JB remix of Fun Powder Plot also helped make that connection more obvious

This band is amazing.

Colour Of Spring, Long Fin Killie, David Sylvain, all sorts of things. Smother is wondrous.

Mix in a bit of Blue Nile as well. My first listen went from "Hmmm, not sure" to "Wow, this really is a remarkable work" fairly quickly!

http://stereogum.com/702502/wild-beasts-smother-inspiration-mixtape/mp3s/

i was supposed to see them for the first time this Friday but a stupid work mission will prevent me from going. so gutted

Colour Of Spring

There was a Guardian piece the other day where they said Talk Talk were their collective favourite band or words to that effect.

this has too many 'the chorus is the song title' songs

That's bad?

Mix in a bit of Blue Nile as well. My first listen went from "Hmmm, not sure" to "Wow, this really is a remarkable work" fairly quickly!

― Gerald McBoing-Boing

I agree with all of this. It took about two days from thinking this is just quite pleasant to this is probably the album of the year.

I found the last one deathly dull. Is this much different?

I'd say if you didn't like Two Dancers there's not much chance you would like this one.

Just out of interest did you give the last album quite a few plays? cause it was such a grower and so is this one.

I found the last one deathly dull. Is this much different?

Last one is anything but dull.

I'll give you guys the benefit of the doubt and give it another go. But I fear I'm not that up for Elbowish mood-rock at the moment *ducks*

Way more energetic than Elbow.

Well, last album was. This new one has less energy and discord, but is still very direct.

I was just re-listening to Long Fin Killie for the first time in years when the new one came out, so that popped up in my mind right away.

this one is better than Two Dancers. i still miss old, very different 1st album Wild Beasts. shame we'll never get that band back but some of their very best stuff is on this one.

this one is just so lush - can't understand some of the skepticism around "Albatross" which is simply gorgeous and a pretty good summary of what this album is about.

It is, but on first hearing of Albatross in isolation I just went 'meh' at it; it needs context, for me.

showing up The Strokes this evening on bbc telly! surprised to hear unofficial 5th member lady singing along.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpKzqulSFo4

http://sickmouthy.com/2011/05/21/wild-beasts-smother/

what's that a link to

My blog.

oh

Oh. What were you hoping for?

new album is great!

this is so good

Two Dancers > Smother > Limbo, Panto

All very very good though.

loving the new album and they were charming and poised in concert last night. Fine band

performance at field day v good, made me feel better about smother, reminded me to get tickets well in advance of their gig here

i think it's a little sad that an indie band who are remarkable & good (yeah, yeah, i know) don't warrant a new thread for the new album on ilx these days

also -- i thought hayden was the mostly-falsetto singer and mostly the guitar player, and fleming was the mostly-gruff singer and mostly the bass player? have they swapped? that's kind of cool, if they have swapped

Here's where I confess that I didn't know there were two singers as they sound quite similar - I thought it was one bloke operating at different pitches. Oops.

[I didn't know until last night, that is]

I love thsi band. Not fussed by the debut, but Two Dancers and Smother are both awesome. These guys and These New Puritans make me feel very positive about young men in bands making music in 2011.

I'm with Nick, Wild Beasts surely are one of the best bands on go. The vast territory they have covered in their brief 3 year lifespan so far is staggering. I heard 'Two Dancers' first and as such I've never quite seen 'Limbo Panto' as the masterful debut some others claim it to be. I do think it's great but I prefer Wild Beasts when they are more restrained and less bombastic and the near constant theatricality of 'Limbo Panto' irritates me sometimes if I'm honest.

With that in mind I'm utterly besotted with 'Smother'. It's a well balanced album all round but the stretch from 'Albatross' to the 'End Comes Too Soon' compromises an absolutely faultlessly beautiful suite of songs. I've been known to gripe a little at all the supposed similarities with later era Talk Talk which, aside of the atmospheric build in at the end of the final track, I find difficult to hear. I know it's pretty anal as far as comparisons go but I think someone in this thread said it sounded more like The Blue Nile and as subtle as it seems that's a lot closer to the mark for me. I'd love the see the band venture more towards the Talk Talk side of things on their next album although the shift in restrained dynamics in their songwriting between the 'Smother' and 'Two Dancers' is monumental and very ambitous for such a young band.

I really hope this one reaps its deserved rewards in the end of year polls. Few albums released this year can claim to being quite as rewarding of repeated listens as this.

i like them for muso reasons. it sounds too simple to say, but they are really good at writing and orchestrating songs. deceptively simple shifts in harmony, well-considered repeated figures, rhythms that are both direct and unexpected. i just think they're good at being a band.

These guys and These New Puritans make me feel very positive about young men in bands making music in 2011

I concur, and don't forget British Sea Power! Although they've been going a bit longer.

I love, love, love this band; Talk Talk and Blue Nile comparisons are apt but I honestly prefer Wild Beasts to either.

I get a lot of Long Fin Killie from them.

That comment, plus various unanimously positive things I've read about them elsewhere in the past, was enough to prompt me into a long overdue blind buy of the 3 Long Fin Killie LP's and 3 of their EP's.

Came home and saw that 2 of their albums were on Spotify and after listening to a few tracks from Amelia (not too many though, I like to retain an element of expectation and surprise in my music listening where possible) I'm totally blow away. Like "oh my god I can't believe my ears" stunned. I'm familiar with Luke Sutherland from his cameos with Mogwai but my word, never did I presume LKF to sound as unbelievably awesome as this. Enthralling stuff.

And yes, from the minuscule snapshot I've heard, I totally get the Wild Beasts comparison.

Anyone have an MP3 of the b-side "Mummy's Boy"? I'd pay for it but I CAN'T BECAUSE I'M AMERICAN. Stupid gits. E-mail me - geraldmcbb (at) hotmail.com - also hoping to be able to get the recent "Smother" b-sides as well.

they're all on Spotify you know?

Yeah, I just noticed that, thanks, but still not "Mummy's Boy".

Mummy's Boy is on there in the UK. spotify:track:3wY3qCfMhM6fS47G1hRh26

God I love this band.

Mummy's Boy is on there in the UK

But not in the US. They don't want us to hear it.

Gerald, what's your email address?

tearjerker
shadow lurker
wonder worker
reach a bit further

it's taken a while but i'm really getting into this one

I missed the response, Nick! I am geraldmcbb (at) h0tma1l (d0t) com - ta!

Sent.

fantastic show last night - sounds cheesy to say this and not something I usually care about, but these guys just ooze sheer musicality

I am seeing Wild Beasts tonight. First time. Excited.

They're amazing Nick; you're in for a real treat. I've seen them 3 times. Once at Primavera in 2010, once in the Edinburgh Liquid Rooms and most recently at the street party at New Year.

Only dissapointment of seeing them the last 2 times is that 'Two Dancers (I)' seems to have been dropped from the set list.

Expect everything to be a little slower than on 'Smother'. Tempo was reduced ever so slightly in the recent shows. 'End Comes to Soon' kills live. Enjoy!

They were real good when I saw them here in MTL.

EXCITED!!!!! I love this band!

yeah they're amazing. my one gripe is that they (SPOILERS!) don't do much of the 'old stuff'. maybe 1 or 2 songs off Limbo.. late last year in Manchester and 2 or 3 off Dancers
and certainly zero off the pre debut era. but pretty much the new album in full. it's the opposite of what a band like say, Interpol do. i prefer the 'Hits' method.

I love this band so much. Set was pretty much all my favourite songs (i.e. what you described!) so awesomer still.

http://sickmouthy.com/2012/03/15/wild-beasts-live/

Oh man this band are fucking good.

Quite. I wonder how they'll continue to evolve...

As much as I love the last two albums I hope they do something a bit different this time. Limbo Panto is still my favourite album of theirs by far, would love them to bring back some of that style but judging by how many songs they still do live from that album I know they won't.

Limbo Panto is like a warm up or a rehearsal to me, very adolescent and untamed. Can see why people like it, but what comes afterwards is just next level. I can't see them returning to that sound at all.

They could go more electronic next, or they could go more pastoral. I could see either. Or a combination of both. There's such powerful restraint and reserve and control in Smother: I'd like to hear them really unify that with the occasional whooping, sensual cacophony of some of Two Dancers.

I love Smother, but I think Two Dancers might, just, be better. What a band.

http://sickmouthy.com/2013/02/13/wild-beasts-two-dancers-2009/

otm

so it seems a new album's about to "drop". Judging from the track previewed on Q mag website - seems they're still mining the same mood as Smother. I really liked that album when it came about but it ultimately never clicked for me as hard as Two Dancers.

the most boring band i've ever seen live.

you are crazy

If the new track you're talking about is "Stray," I think that's just a Smother b-side, the post on Q is a bit misleading.

Yeah, that's nuts, dig latin. This band are awesome and wonderful live.

xp - ah yes, it did sound faintly familiar.

xxxp yeah that is some crazy talk - seeing those guys swap leads and howl away is the ind of stuff that makes you fall in love with music all over again

They did say on Twitter that they'd be dropping something new this week though.

they're outstanding musicians and seemed like really nice dudes, don't know what else u could want live

they look amazing too!

Very excited for any new Wild Beasts. One of my favourite bands going.

This interview makes the new album sound very interesting. It seems like the last thing they want to do is repeat themselves which is fine by me.

http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/articles/features/wild-beasts-we-almost-justified-our-existence/

They just cryptically tweeted "Simple future" (title of their new album or single?) along with a link to their website. http://www.wild-beasts.co.uk/

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE (x1000)

So yeah, something is coming on the 7th.

True enough, that.

Oh man, we have to wait until July 1st!?!?!?!

;)

Exciting news.

Their new single/video, "Wanderlust".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IIbbFIQTKI

Could be a grower, but on first listen, it doesn't sound like the best choice for a first single. Gorgeous video though.

They weren't kidding about this album being more synth-y, at least with this song.

Loving this after one listen. Really hearing the Kate Bush influence though

amazing, thanks

Definitely the quintessential Wild Beasts song title.

Reminds me of "Everyone Wants to Rule the World" oddly enough.

Love it! This band just never let me down.

If the single is any indication of the sound of the rest of the album, it'll probably be their most conventional album yet, but it'll still stick to their "never making the same album twice" thing.

hmmm I have to disagree - I have a feeling this oen is going to be quite left-field (also judging by that long recent interview they did)

full new album/ tour details

http://www.wild-beasts.co.uk/

urgh horrible cover though

yeah that is hideous, esp. when their last album's art was so lovely

Glad the album is out so soon. It coming out on the same day as the new St. Vincent album is pretty cool too.

I maybe take back my last comment: "Present Tense is a dramatically new album – taking cues from the most intense and effervescent of 1980s and 1990s electronic sound but rethinking and retooling these elements with exquisite detail for the 21st century"

Not sure how that single is 'conventional'. Am sure that it's brilliant, though.

"Wanderlust" just sounds that way TO MEEEEEE when measured against the cabaret-whatever you describe it as of Limbo Panto, the stripped-down aesthetic of Smother, and the transitional Two Dancers.

I don't think that it's entirely a bad thing to be called that, especially when it's Wild Beasts we're talking about, and besides, I'll probably end up eating my words based on the description of the album.

I can say the album is definitely all them. One adjective I'd give it right now is serpentine. One song is all building stark electronic threat, immediately followed by another that's gentle vocal/piano balladry at core.

Another excellent new song.

http://youtu.be/yBe89Z7cqcw

Less than two weeks until the album now. Very excited here.

Holy crap, the new one is utterly GORGEOUS, almost brought me to tears. It sounds so CLEAN without being too clinical, it carries an emotional punch.

This band, man... Gonna revisit their previous albums in preparation for the new one!

Out the same day as The Notwist's new one. Will be buying both day of release, a rarity for me these days.

Listening to the album for the second time. It doesn't sound as distinct as their first three albums (though that may change on future listens obv) but their sound remains beautiful all the same. "Palace", the closer, is a standout track.

Just giving this a listen for the first time now. I remember being slightly disappointed with Two Dancers and Smother the first few times I played them but grew to love them fairly quickly. I fell instantly in love with Limbo Panto (still my favourite) but they know how to make growers.

Oh, I'm not disappointed at all. This seems like their best album lyrically. This is a cliché but I love the contrast between the lyric's anger and the music's beauty. Maybe it's always been there but it seems so stark and present this go-round.

Haven't really paid much attention to the lyrics but only listened to it once. The production as always is outstanding but some of it didn't really make that much impression on me. The middle of the album seemed to drag a little. The last couple of songs were the highlights.

Slight disappointment so far but I'm sure I'll be on here after my third play saying how perfect it is. St. Vincent's album was way more instant for me and is at the moment the one to beat.

After a few listens, the only weak track is "Pregnant Pause".

Daughters and Nature Boy are the only two that aren't clicking with me so far (after about five listens) Think I prefer the second half overall.

They did the latest FACT mix, which includes a Leonard Cohen cover: http://www.factmag.com/2014/02/24/fact-mix-427-wild-beasts/

Was going to give them a miss on this tour but it looks like they're being supported by These New Puritans on their Brighton date, so fuck yes I'm there.

Off 1.5 listens this is gorgeous & subtle & beautifully constructed kraut-romantic-electro-indie-pop, BUT it continues on almost exactly were Smother left off, to my ears; I'm hearing no great leaps in quality or paradigm shifts in approach. Which is absolutely fine, but that's the narrative that some are spinning. Which makes me think about the archetype-listening thing we were discussing the other day in regard to Aphex Twin. What do the press (and fans) want Wild Beasts to be? What do Wild Beasts want to be?

Smother (and Two Dancers) were massive slow-burn growers for me, so I'm happy to give this months to seep into my cerebellum.

My copy arrived last week so I’ve had the luxury of listening to it once a day since Thursday. I think it’s fantastic and it’ll surely be one of my most listened to albums throughout 2014.

I can understand someone feeling that it just picks up where ‘Smother’ finished but I don’t agree personally. Sure, they’ve developed a production aesthetic that seems to have been relatively consistent since Two Dancers and the drum sounds that were so important on the last album are almost identical on ‘Present Tense’. It might be those drums, which so often in isolation begin Wild Beasts songs, that contribute most to people feeling their stuff is a little samey. There’s a lot less guitars on the new one. In fact, I think it’s maybe not until the 3rd song that any guitars appear. The new one is definitely their most overtly electronic and, in time, I think that’s what will distinguish it from their past work. I recall reading something in an interview recently (which I can’t locate) where they suggested having a real reluctance to falling into a “sounds like Talk Talk/Blue Nile/Kate Bush” trap and becoming the critical darlings of aging Mojo readers. It’ll be interesting to see if ‘Present Tense’ has that type of impact and does propel them to new levels of acclaim as for me, initially anyway, it seems to contain some of their most and least accessible music.

Personally I’m happy with Wild Beasts sounding the way they do. Heck, I’d welcome ‘Smother Part 2’ but I’m not sure that’s what we’ve got here. Perhaps the (slight) change in direction was more perceptible between ‘Two Dancers’ and ‘Smother’ than the evolution shown on the new one.

They seem like a pretty reflective and articulate band and I’d be surprised if they don’t talk about this kind of stuff in interviews.

i think in one interview they said this sounded most like their debut..!

Bands seldom know what they actually sound like, ime.

I wish this sounded like their debut. As brilliant as Smother and Two Dancers Limbo is an a different league. It's such a unique album and just so much fun. I feel like they're taking themselves too seriously these days. I've played Past Tense ten times in the last week and some of the songs are just not sticking at all. As I mentioned on here already I was disappointed with Dancers and Smother when they came out but grew to love them very quickly. Hope it happens with the new one but at the moment it's easily their weakest for me. The synths sound a bit forced in places and it feels like adding more synths is the only thing they've really changed to their sound. Reading those interviews before the album came out I was expecting much more of a change in direction.

Yeah, I was too. I was expecting energised, not enervated. (Enervated is fine; I like a lot of soporific music.)

Surprised to see this has been their best reviewed album so far.

http://www.metacritic.com/person/wild-beasts

I wonder if they're 'suffering' from reputation lag, and being praised overly quickly for this album after Smother was such a grower? Assumption being that this will be a grower too.

Although 83-85-86 average over the last three albums is pretty damn consistent on a 100 point scale.

Guess they're just a band that can do no wrong now. They actually have a similar pattern to St. Vincent, although her new album has an even better score at the moment.

I'm with Kitchen Person - Limbo Panto is still better than what they've done since and I'm always sad they didn't do more in that vein. I'm baffled when critics treat it as an immature prologue to what they did next. Its precise formula of Kate Bush+Happy Mondays+Orange Juice is irresistible to me.

I listened to Limbo just the other day and it was just as much of a thrill as it was in 2008. I feel like it's more the band themselves that see it that way than the actual critics. They now only seem to play Devil's Crayon live from that album anymore. They seem to take themselves too seriously these days to remember that a lot of their fans love that album. Kind of reminds me of Elbow who seemed to give up playing anything from their first three albums (when they were actually kind of an interesting band) when they made it big with that fourth album. Thinking about it for a band that made a first album like Limbo Panto that had those influences you mentioned (add in some Sparks and Associates too) it's kind of sad they actually sound more like Elbow these days and are continuing down that Talk Talk route more and more with each album. Don't get me wrong Talk Talk are one of my favourite bands ever but it's just not that much of an original influence anymore or one I can get excited about. These New Puritans did it and even bloody Brett Anderson did it on one of his solo albums. Bring back the pomp I say.

What no one seems to remember / use from TT's later day period is the noise and catharsis of some of it; it's all very well doing beautiful, but there's some fucking thundering drums and gnarly guitar on SoE and LS that people are forgetting.

It actually took me ages to get round to listening to Talk Talk just because so much of the stuff that gets compared to them is really boring. I was shocked by the unboringness of TT when I did listen.

Bark Psychosis are about the only act who used the dynamics and noise of TT.

Yeah, it's amazing how many times Talk Talk are cited as an influence on something and I'm like "really? this?" Bon Iver being a recent-ish example.

What no one seems to remember / use from TT's later day period is the noise and catharsis of some of it; it's all very well doing beautiful, but there's some fucking thundering drums and gnarly guitar on SoE and LS that people are forgetting.

― the drummer is a monster (Scik Mouthy)

Yeah this is a good point about Talk Talk. I'd love some of that noise on Present Tense.

I'm trying to remember who were the best band to be compared to late Talk Talk. I've no idea what the reviews of Hex said at the time and if the band mentioned them as an influence. I think one of the earliest ones I remember is that first Doves album, which is still a better album than anything Elbow have put out.

I think These New Puritans have enough ugliness and noise in their music to justify it, especially Hidden.

I meant to say first band not best band by the way.

Ulver are the band who hit the most Talk Talk pleasure points for me now

Heads up UKers - this is 99p for the whole album on Google Play this weekend:

https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Wild_Beasts_Present_Tense?id=Bak64ujt7lkuebwyz2m7vrfd6iy

Can we remove the limbo panto bit from the thread title?

This B-side from the Wanderlust EP is probably as good, if not better, than anything on the actual album. Shame they left it out, though it's a bit more electronic in feel than anything they've ever done so I understand why they relegated it to B-side status. I'd love to get a whole album of this kind of material though. It kinda reminds me a bit of that Jon Hopkins album from last year and I know Hayden has collaborated with him so I wonder if their meeting rubbed off on him to result in this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sA6hBn4UBw

They've got a good crop of b-sides, actually. Thankless Thing is wonderful.

Agreed. "Stray" is good too.

'Through the Iron Gate' and 'Catherine Wheel' are big favorites of mines as well. I was going to make up a Wild Beasts B-Sides CD-R recently in fact but wanted to hold off until I could get 'Byzantine' to add.

Anyone else heard the Factory Floor and Field remixes of Wanderlust?

Junior Boys remix/cover of 'Fun Powder Plot' is brilliant as well. Better than the original? Probably scandalous to suggest that but it's not far of.

just saw them live and they were great, and wanderlust and sweet spot were two highlights of the night

This new LP is dope maybe even if you're not an indie fuxx0r.

they've really scaled up the Kate Bush influence though - "Mecca" in partic is straight up Dreaming era material

I like the way the first half kind of plays like an ambient record and then... Things get more kinetic? It's backloaded nicely. Never heard these guys, before. I'm gonna have to check out their earlier stuff huh.

I am not usually a fan of remixes but this is really terrific:

https://soundcloud.com/dominorecordco/wild-beasts-a-simple

http://devonrecordclub.com/2014/04/05/wild-beasts-present-tense-round-64-nicks-choice/

I even like "Pregnant Pause" now.

no clue who this remixer is, but i'm feeling this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EeInXpAcfY

always like that shuffley shit

So the Beasts released "Mecca" as a single with a couple of remixes by Sohn and Juan Atkins. They're ok but not as impressive as the "Simple Beautiful Truth" remixes.

They came to Seoul last night, finally giving me an opportunity to catch their live show. Fantastic performance, front-loaded with new stuff.

While pondering when their next album will appear, I found they've released some more remixes including these:

https://soundcloud.com/dominorecordco/wild-beasts-palace-foals-remix
https://soundcloud.com/stevemoore2600/wild-beasts-palace-steve-moore-remix
https://soundcloud.com/dominorecordco/wild-beasts-woebegone-wanderers-ii

Is there an argument to be made that they are NOT the best band of the last ten years? They are better than basically any band you can compare them to, past or present.

I love them to bits but some idiot bit of my brain says that can't possibly be the case. Then again, I can't think of anyone comparable who's any better.

https://youtu.be/8nkdZhFzglA

Album 'Boy King' out 5th August 2016!

Wasn't at all sure about this new song at first, but it's growing on me ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nkdZhFzglA

not sure i can face another disappointing Wild Beasts album. first album was incredible but they got steadily less interesting and the whole thing seemed to fall off a cliff after Smother. came across the very first 2 EPs/demos recently and loved those.

^ Agree with this. Totally mystifying the direction they took after the first record.

Yeah, I agree with that too. Limbo Panto is still my favourite of their albums. I loved the direction they took on Two Dancers but they've not developed since. I liked Smother a lot when it came out but the last time I listened to it, it didn't do that much for me. I was baffled by the great reaction Present Tense got. There was nothing interesting about it at all. I couldn't believe it was the first of their albums to make the ILM end of year albums list.

Get My Bang doesn't seem to go anywhere. This is the first time I have no real interest in one of their albums. I still wish they'd bring back the pomp and charm of Limbo Panto.

am in the same camp as the last 3 posts. currently trending on uk twitter, didn't realise that many people gave a shit tbh. happy for them but eh whatevs

Surprised by the consensus here. I felt these guys get better after Limbo Panto. I did not spend as much time with Future Tense as with the others but I was musically elsewhere when that came out. Still a blast to see live.

Video is very "The Way You Make Me Feel"

the fuck is with that album cover

according to iTunes, his has a 20-minute bonus track, which seems...out of character.

jesus that song/video :/

So they're going for a more pop vibe. Let's see how it plays out, I still love everything they've done.

I'm all for them going in a pop direction but they need to remember the tunes. Get My Bang is probably my least favourite song they've done.

I really like the song n general, still trying to get my head around that title/hook tho

sounds like hot chip

last track on the anohni album reminds me of early wild beasts

I don't mind the new single, but I also hope it's a red herring

(xpost) Yeah - I got a Hot Chip feel from it too!

it's the backing vocals that made me first think that

Strongly disagree about Limbo Panto. Much prefer the way they handled their pompous tendencies on Two Dancers and Smother. Present Tense had good ideas but it's not as great imo.

otm Listened to Two Dancers again some days ago and for the time it is playing it really convinces you to be one of the finest albums of recent years. Such a well-balanced and constantly high level of songwriting and production.

yep

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRFtHO180tg

I like this better than Get My Bang

It is better than Get My Bang but it doesn't really excite me at all like anything from the first three albums. They seem to have lost the magic somewhere.

I like Big Cat. It's Wild Beasts on autopilot but that's cool with me.

Does any other band cover sex in a similar way? They seem to have a pretty unique spin on machismo. Their key virtue imo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNy54uzxR2I - more like it

Another new one:

http://diymag.com/2016/07/25/wild-beasts-get-grizzly-with-tough-guy

got my download code, sounds pretty good so far! don't hate 'get my bang' in the context of the album

interesting album closer

Interesting how?

this LP reminds me of St Vincent's self-titled record

well it accounts for almost 1/3 of the running time for one, xp

well i take that back apparently it's a bonus track/companion piece

some sort of ambient thing?

yeah like an ambient/demos/acoustic/lofi sound collage

So uh I kinda love this album

It's produced by John Congleton so the St Vincent thing is understandable.

This is a slight improvement over Present Tense for me but it's nowhere near the quality of the first three albums. I don't really have any use for the first four songs. Tough Guy does sound a lot like St Vincent, it sounds like a bad impression of Birth In Reverse. I do really like the run from Celestial Creatures to He The Colossus but that's about it.

"2BU" is the standout for me.

Yeah, I like that one a lot. Those 80s synths are a nice touch.

Oh wow: I actually came here for the first time in years to start a thread asking after a survey of quavery voices — edgy things in the Wild Beasts / Parenthetical Girls / Frog Eyes kind of vein — and this was already sitting on top of New Answers!

I generally agree with your assessment, KP, though I think "Present Tense" is very solid. Overall I feel the lyrics on the new one are really weak, which puts me off. From what I've read this is sort of an album they wanted to get out of their system.

Getting big Simple Minds vibes from this one

Bonus tracks/b-sides are kicking around, and they're top-notch as always. "Maze" is a beauty.

Yes, I think "Maze" is wonderful.

Where can I get Maze? Can't see it on iTunes.

I have it on the bonus 7" that came with the deluxe vinyl.

*loathing* this so far. what the living fuck happened to these guys?

I'm not blown away but loathing is v strong. Last one was a mellow grower. What's upsetting you?

i'm kind of enjoying the butt-rock touches

i dunno man. you're right though.. i need to stay away from it and re-listen in 6 months. i think the Pitch4k review nails it

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22139-boy-king/

I don't hate the new album but I'm so disappointed in how much they've fallen off since Smother. First two records are perfect and Smother is really great but they've completely lost me on these latest two. Even the best songs on these albums don't come anywhere near the quality of their earlier albums.

That Pitchfork review is just about spot on. 6.8 is pretty generous though.

It's their Hot Space

The first album is horrific imo other than Devil's Crayon. Two Dancers was where they really got it together, Smother was a continuation and then the two most recent ones are merely OK.

The first album is horrific imo other than Devil's Crayon

i can see that album would jar greatly if you don't like the particular histrionics on it but HIS GRINNING SKULL is surely the best song they ever made

(i don't know why i shouted that song title, sorry if that sounded hostile)

They haven't duetted properly since Smother, have they?

I liked all four tracks they previewed, when heard in isolation, but the album as a whole is seriously underwhelming me :(

'Smother' is their peak for me ...

finally saw these guys last night, pretty great show and a nice escape from the overwhelming sadness and existential dread of the day

the baritone singer completely stole the show, what a set of pipes on that one!

the boy king tracks sounded good live, though they were kinda hamming it up while performing them. for me wild beasts has always had a sophisticated swagger but here they were miming cock-rock tropes, complete with jackson guitar finger tapping and some crotch thrusting

I saw them a month or so ago and the 'Boy King' songs came across as if they were made for playing live - more direct and forceful. Was an excellent show.

RIP Wild Beasts. A shock but also somehow inevitable after the last album. At their peak they were extraordinary. I guess we all have our favourite moment..
Upload your favourite moment here!

https://youtu.be/H3xlfrlsLJo

I played Two Dancers yesterday for the first time in a few years, it’s still completely fantastic.

Why inevitable? Boy King never stuck with me and seemed a step in the wrong direction but it wasn't something they couldn't have recovered from. Sad

A shame, those first two records are forever.

the first four are forever. my favorite group of the period I think. shame.

I at least liked all their albums tbh. I caught them on the Smother tour and they were very good.

I'm with you, Gospodin. At this point I'll wait for the inevitable reformation and return to form.

That's a shame that they've gone out on such a weak album. I think they got worse with each release, but those first two are absolutely perfect. Smother is great too, but isn't quite in the same league as Limbo Panto and Two Dancers. The last two albums were totally forgettable. I was hoping they'd be able to regain my interest somehow.

Their b-sides were so good, hope they do a comp

I saw them on the 'Boy King' tour and thought the songs from that album made quite a bit more sense live - like they were more direct and streamlined and likely to come across better on the festival circuit. Was a very good gig, pretty well balanced set.

Two Dancers and Smother are absolute, stone cold classics. Present Tense is very good. Limbo Panto is pretty good. Boy King didn't know where to go; it also broke the narrative arc - onanistic adolescents, whooping lads on the town, falling in love/ infatuation, domestic bliss. Midlife crisis? I'm sad. Great band, fabulous live. And yes, some cracking b sides. Thankless Thing!

They're releasing one last EP of Boy King outtakes, which guess makes this their last newly released song

https://open.spotify.com/track/6b3HeQ00jtHHG9hBU92atJ

New interview with Hayden doesn't really shed any light on the reason behind the split

Final shows tonight, tomorrow and Saturday; Dublin, Manchester, and London.

Q posted their final interview earlier; quite sweet this. Kinda poignant too obviously

https://www.qthemusic.com/articles/wild-beasts-this-is-the-end-my-friends

One for the Rock Stars Who Went Back To Work thread; one's a roofer now, one is training in accountancy.

We're all quiffed and cropped,
This is our lot,
We hold each other up heavy with hops.

This Is Our Lot is so fucking good.

Hayden's new thing

https://divinerdiviner.com/

New song

https://youtu.be/4uPHw6zFpto

Try that again ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uPHw6zFpto

I like this a lot. It sounds exactly like you'd expect a WBs solo offshoot to sound like, but in a good way.

Hey, that's really good! Looking forward to this after the final album, which is decidedly not my cup of tea.

So the Hayden Thorpe solo album is out. It's pretty mellow, lots of voice + piano + small touches. I must admit I miss the voice of Tom Fleming as the counterpoint to Hayden's falsetto. I've only listened to it once and it feels like a grower, we'll see.

I’ve listened to it once and really liked it. Can see it as a grower and also as not being a record for all moods. It’s not Wild Beasts but it doesn’t feel like a radical departure either.

Tom Fleming's current project is One True Pairing: https://onetruepairing.bandcamp.com/ - first album is fun if a bit derivative, latest EP is voice and guitar.

Hayden Thorpe has a new album out as well: https://haydenthorpe.bandcamp.com/album/moondust-for-my-diamond

revisited them earlier today and man I miss these guys

wish they had more songs like Reach A Bit Further where they just had Hayden and Tom trading lead vocals back and forth

Yeah they seemed to lose the magic in the end but still felt like their split was rushed. Not sure any of them will ever capture that magic again

Two Dancers and Smother are practically faultless. Present Tense is very good. I remember almost nothing about Boy King, sadly. I wish they’d taken the Smother aesthetic further, rather than reaching for synthesisers and maximalism.

sorry this goes against what you just said but this is a great performance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUwVD6nQ6pM

https://haydenthorpe.bandcamp.com/album/ness Coming Sept 27.