Mt Wolf steal the show at The Lexington
Small indie label Two Sisters Records held a Christmas party last night at The Lexington, yet it was less a party and more a showcase of some of the talent they had on offer. Four bands played the event but those in the know came to see one: Mt Wolf. The London-based four-piece have earned quiet adulation on the underground circuit in a city where music aficionados often hold back their admiration until it’s cool enough to say it.
Their brand of folk, electronica and sub-bass is current and tailor-made for the hipster generation who have a need for vibrating walls and multi-layered soundscapes. Lead singer Kate Sproule has a stunning voice that really gets under your skin.
The instrumentation is there to surround you while the vocals pierce the soul with reverb, delay and looping controlled by the songstress herself using an Akai foot pedal. The guitars are often used subtly to pluck your attention when Al Mitchell uses his drum machine to give the kick and snare that electronic feel, akin to the likes of James Blake.
The band recently released the EP Life Size Ghosts and the title song takes a more ethereal approach in their live set with beautifully intricate guitar play from both Stevie McMinn on the acoustic and Sebastian “Bassi” Fox on the electric. You feel Sproule is revealing her innermost thoughts in this stripped-down track with the refrain, “I am not so innocent.” It’s when she begins to play violin in the song that it all comes together and you wonder if a masterpiece has been created before your very eyes.
This may go over the heads of their usual crowd who may prefer the sounds of more uptempo outings; however, this doesn’t seem too far away from what Mt Wolf seem to be about. Their intention is to create a melancholy atmosphere encapsulated within dance vibes.
With comparisons to bands such as Grimes and Poliça, Mt Wolf are primed to catch the ears of London’s cool crowd. This is modern, this is hip and, most of all, this is good.
Samuel Mensah
Photo: Salvador Silva
For further information and future events visit Mt. Wolf’s website here.
Watch the video for Life Size Ghosts here:
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