Vessels

Wolf & Cub

4AD

2007-04-02

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• (Reviewer)

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• (Member — 0 votes)

Wolf & Cub are another in an ever growing list of lupine-monikered acts who don’t quite run the gamut of popular music, but certainly pop up at numerous odd points of the spectrum. The non-definitive list includes the retro punk of Japan’s Guitar Wolf, Canadian noise terrorists AIDS Wolf, Will Oldham and Matt Sweeney vehicle Superwolf and Swedish electro-oddballs Fox & Wolf. WAC have got the dark, narcotic retro rock ‘n roll angle sewn-up, though.

The double-drums, guitar, bass assault came together in Adelaide, Australia a few years ago. Tours with kindred spirits, like Wolfmother, QOTSA and DFA 1979 eventually followed, which combined with the strong reception for early EPs and lead to this debut long player — Vessels. It took two years for WAC to move from their debut EP to first LP, and another six months for it to be released on 4AD on these shores. Unlike some of the new rave we are/will be subjected to this year Vessels isn’t particularly ‘scene’ and nor is it likely to date too soon.

Wolf & Cub have got the dark, narcotic retro rock ‘n roll angle sewn-up.

The overall feeling could be that Wolf & Cub are like BRMC’s older brother, but the one who has actually had a knife fight with a drunk redneck. It’s a bit heavier and more spaced out. Vessels begins with the insistent bass and pounding drums of the opening title track, and this is sense is revisited in the instrumental “Rozalia Bizarre” and closing track “Vultures part 2 section 2” (albeit with less success). The LP is pepped up with the biker disco of “This Mess” and “Seeds Of Doubt” (rhinestoned leather jacket anyone?), and the fuzzbass clatter of “Steal Their Gold”. But the stoners are also catered for with the widescreen psychedelic blues of “Hammond” and the avant elements of the instrumental “Conundrum”.

Fans of the likes of Nebula will find a lot to enjoy on this debut release. Anyone wishing to make up a Wolf-based mixtape alongside the aforementioned bands would do well to include Wolf & Cub.