Album- Wanderlust
Artist- Sophie
Ellis-Bextor
Sophie Ellis- Bextor was once the queen of the dance floor,
with her signature electro pop style giving her a plethora of hit singles. But
after the poor performance of her last album and the parting of ways with her
record label, Bextor was definitely at a strange place in her career with her
next album. As such Wanderlust represents a new beginning in many ways, coming
after the stars high profile role on the latest series of UK talent show Strictly
Come Dancing, and presenting a change towards a more folk driven sound. But is
this new beginning a good thing, or will people be wanting the old Sophie
Ellis-Bextor back?
Track 1- Birth of an
Empire
Opening track Birth of an Empire immediately shows of the
singers change in sound with the swirling orchestral strings that creates this
Eastern European flavour to the song. Here we find the singer telling us of how
things are changing and how she is always going to be close, with the singer
reflecting on this empire being born. The metaphorical edge to the lyrics is
really intriguing with a poetic quality to the verses, whilst the chorus still
has that catchy pop tone. What makes the song work is Bextor’s vocals, as her
airy tone creates this euphoric quality that makes the lyrics that much more
believable. The vocals are also nicely offsett by the forceful production, with
the thumping military beats of the bridge making for a grand finish to the
final chorus.
3.5/5
Track 2- Until the
Stars Collide
The Eastern European quality of the album is firmly cemented
within the looping instrumental backdrop of Until the Stars Collide, which is
made complete by the use of thumping drum beats and a slightly mournful string
arrangement. The song finds Bextor telling us of holding onto fiction as she
sings about this forlorn love which she cannot move on from. The lyrics edge
into fairy-tale cliché, but Bextor manages to make the song feel like a smart
analysis of life, and with her airy vocal tone she makes the song feel like it
has this really classy edge and is built upon honesty.
3.5/5
Track 3- Runaway
Dreamer
With a fast paced string opening that is intriguing and has
this almost Bollywood feel, Runaway Dreamer finds Bextor singing of using her
imagination to escape life and just indulging herself, whilst promising her
baby that she is here to stay. The production works really well in terms of
building up as the song goes on, starting with just a simple drum and piano
backdrop before being joined by shimmering string notes and some tinny
percussion. The wistfulness of the lyrics are beautifully brought out by the
delicacy of Bextor’s vocal performance, creating this swaying, chilled feel
that will probably have you day dreaming, and which is ultimately just
amazingly pretty.
4/5
Track 4- The Deer
& the Wolf
The Deer & the Wolf reads like a very strange title for
a song, and indeed the track is a little strange, as the singer talks about how
these two animals never try to get along, but have this unknown bond. Yet the
story that the singer tells has this lovely metaphorical essence that is really
interesting and makes you think about the nature of relationships. Things are
given more of a simple pop rock tone with the bubbling guitar riff and snappy
drum beats, whilst the sound is also nice in giving us more of an upbeat song
for the record that you can almost dance along to. Bextor’s vocal performance
is really strong as her wistful voice creates a lovely light tone to the track that
makes you listen to the lyrics and their potential meaning a little more,
whilst the singer also shows great control of her voice, with the production
and the vocals also really working in sync.
3.5/5
Track 5- Young Blood
Lead single Young Blood is a wistful pop number that finds
Bextor in a delicate state amidst a sea of soft military drum beats and a
delicate piano line. The firm acoustic setting of the song creates a really
light backdrop for the singer’s vocals to really shine, with Bextor’s vocals
having a bit more power and grabbing your attention a little more. Lyrically
the track reflects upon the aging process, with Bextor looking back at this
relationship and how this person gives her young blood because they love her.
The lyrics are firmly constructed with a lush pop chorus that is immediately
catchy, whilst Bextor just paints this picture of eternal love that is lush to
listen to. The addition of strings and choir like background vocals creates an
extra layer of euphoria, making this a great choice of lead single.
4/5
Track 6- Interlude
With the fuzzy, radio tuning backdrop, Interlude is an
intriguing song that finds Bextor remembering how to love and looking back at
this relationship that apparently echoes in her mind. The lyrics aren’t as strong
as some of the other tunes, but with the fuzzy tone of the production with its
mix of piano and guitar a delicate, almost 60’s feeling sound is created that
harks back to good times and which makes the lyrics feel more honest, whilst
the singer gives a languid vocal performance that is still really engaging,
with the song also sounding well rounded despite its short length.
3.5/5
Track 7- 13 Little
Dolls
13 Little Dolls is probably the song that fans of the singer’s
past music will love, as this is the most dance feeling track on the set. Here
we find the singer telling us of Russian folklore and telling us to find these
13 little dolls and keep them safe. The narrative quality of the lyrics is fun
and intriguing, whilst the rumbling drums and swirling string notes creates a
thumping sound, with the use of an organ creating an extra kick to the track that
means that it is feisty and packs a punch. The only issue is that the singer’s
soft voice can sometimes feel a little buried in the production, but on the whole
the vocal performance is equally as feisty and passionate, creating a nice
upbeat number that changes the record up a little.
3.5/5
Track 8- Wrong Side
of the Sun
Bextor sings of wandering through life and wanting something
in the past that she couldn’t get on Wrong Side of the Sun, another track that
has a retrospective lyrical edge. Yet at this point the singer’s wistful
looking back is slightly too familiar, with her languid vocal performance
sounding nice but not being powerful enough to keep the listener engaged. The
folk pop sound nicely ebbs and flows in energy with a good mix of drums and
strings, yet this acoustic environment also isn’t different enough to keep you
engaged, making this the first song of the record where you feel that Bextor
has put herself so much into this folk pop world that her songs will sound too
familiar.
2.5/5
Track 9- Love Is a
Camera
The piano line and the punchy drum and guitar notes creates
an interesting dynamic for Love Is a Camera, a song that sort of feels
influenced by the singer’s time on Strictly Come Dancing, in that the track’s
sound has that ballroom dance feel. Here we find the singer telling us of how
love is like a camera in that you have all these memories and can still
treasure that love when it is gone. The concept is interesting, and the singer’s
vocal performance works well with the wistfulness of this concept, but really
the vibrant production takes centre stage and is that component that keeps you
listening, with the final frenzied minute of the song adding a lovely twist to
the end.
3.5/5
Track 10- Cry to the
Beat of the Band
The military style of the hand clapping beats of Cry to the
Beat of the Band is another interesting layer to this album’s sound that keeps
you invested in the record, with this particular track also having a bit more
of a grand tone. The song finds Bextor telling us of how she left this person,
and how this guy is going to be crying to the beat of the band and will probably
hate this girl all his life. The song smartly taps into that idea of realising
you have to leave someone even if it will really hurt them, with Bextor’s vocal
performance bringing out both the vulnerability and strength of the song, with
the layered chorus sounding really great and creating this choir like effect. Production
wise the song is a stomping effort with a forceful bass that always commands
your attention, and with the choral finish, this is a song that just
continually keeps you interested.
3.5/5
Track 11- When the
Storm Has Blown Over
After the stomping quality of the previous track, Bextor ends
the record on a much softer and more atmospheric note with When the Storm Has
Blown Over. Lyrically the singer gives us an array of images and expresses this
idea of getting through hard times and coming out stronger and happier. The use
of metaphor is slightly clichéd, but Bextor makes the track feel really sophisticated
and powerful, whilst the softness of her voice creates this delicate essence that
makes you feel as if the singer will really be there for you. The indie tone of
the production with the simple guitar riff gives the track a haunting tone that
perfectly cements the lyrical message, creating a lovely, soft finish to the
record.
3.5/5
Final Review
Wanderlust is definitely an album that shows that a
reinvention can definitely pay off. The acoustic led folk pop sound of the
record suits Bextor’s voice beautifully, with the Eastern European flavouring
of some of the tracks adding an extra layer of vibrancy to the whole piece,
which makes for a more dynamic record. The classy essence of Bextor’s voice has
always existed within her music, but with this album the vocals shine, with
Bextor’s performances really prettifying the songs on many occasions. The
lyrics are composed well with a poetic tone that captivates you, and although
on the whole the singer could have drawn a little away from wistful metaphors,
the tracks are widely intriguing and still cemented with catchy pop choruses.
This is a fine record that will hopefully see the singer have some renewed
success, and which shows that Sophie Ellis- Bextor was always much more than
the electro pop skin we thought we knew.
8/10
Best Track- Young
Blood
Worst Track- Wrong
Side of the Sun
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