Working with producer Dave Trumfiro (of Pulsars), Jay Blumenfield and Tim Quirk, aka Wonderlick, have come to our attention with their fifth full-length LP album, Wonderlick Goes To War.
By Graeme Smith
Wonderlick Goes To War gets going in engaging style through the ambient intro of Niagara Falls, 1969. It develops naturally into a vibrant and punchy chorus in which surreal and allegorical lyrics prove gripping. Wonderlick have a style that combines a classic sound with offbeat experimentation in a way I’ve not heard since The Buggles.
The album seems to paint a picture of an alternative reality, drawing on cultural references from the 20th century to create a sci-fi landscape. Vinko Bogotaj is a perfect case in point, a track rich in storytelling. “I wanted Vinko Bogataj to sound like a Pulsars song, but we couldn’t quite get the rhythm tracks right,” explains Tim Quirk. “I was Facebook friends with Dave, so I sent him a message asking if he’d be up for spending a weekend in the studio with us. I sent him a link to our last LP, Undisciplined, and he wrote back really quickly: ‘SONGS!!!’ so I knew we’d get along.”
Hollow Bodies and Museum of the Inquisition have a similar spirit. The latter will have you squirming in your chair through its visceral details.
There are gentler, simpler tales like I Am a Children’s Book and Wag Your Tail, and introspective moments like Popping Pills, My Love’s A Weapon and Reading A Loved One’s Mind. Rhinoceros bridges the gap, combining absurdity with a deeper meaning. It’s a highlight.
After ten quirky and insightful social comments that celebrate and commiserate the highs and lows of humanity, things end cuttingly with the bright and bittersweet Origin Story.
With their new album, Wonderlick aren’t afraid to “go there” and it feels very much a soundtrack for today’s troubling times. Certain influential politicians aren’t mentioned, but seem to lurk in the background at times, especially in the album closer – though that may be me reading too much into it. Either way, Wonderlick Goes To War is a must listen.
