There’s something ultimately nostalgic about emo-tinged singer-songwriters. Even for those young enough to have missed the heyday of This Wild Life’s arguably closest contemporary The Early November, ‘Clouded’ doesn’t feel like a modern day album. Far from a negative, nostalgia certainly has its place in music, and the album’s lack of an immediately obvious modern comparison point is testament to its originality.
Finding itself packaged within the pop-punk/rock genre, the duo have been confirmed as support for Australian rising stars Tonight Alive, and a quick glance at their related artists sees the likes of Mayday Parade and Man Overboard enter the fold. Yet their grandiose take on the stripped back acoustic sound is more likely to find This Wild Life floating between these bands and those that have graced The O.C. or Grey’s Anatomy soundtracks in recent years.
What ‘Clouded’ does so well is that it never fully commits itself to either box. Although both lyrically and in tone it’s not just wearing its heart on its sleeve, it’s actively inviting people to come and have a closer look, the ten tracks never feel melodramatic. Conversely, there’s just enough of an alternative twist to avoid becoming commercial TV fodder – no mean feat when the only instruments other than the leading guitar would be more commonly found in a philharmonic orchestra.
‘Clouded’ balances these grandiose orchestral moments with genuinely heartfelt intimate compositions. It manages to soundtrack heartbreak and loss, optimism and hope in the same breath. Kevin Jordan’s vocals effortlessly deliver a broad range of emotions, from the theatrical ‘Better With You’ to the understated crescendo in opener ‘Concrete’, and the comparably minimalist ‘Roots and Branches’. Anthony Del Grosso underpins each with simple and effective under-produced guitar work, at times reminiscent of City and Colour at his most vulnerable (‘Looking Back’ in particular).
Despite the very occasional misstep into mainstream pop-rock territory – album closer ‘405’ acting as the main culprit – ‘Clouded’ is a rebirth for alternative acoustic albums. Perhaps the nostalgia is ultimately based on the lack of such quality since the likes of Dashboard Confessional and The Early November dominated the genre. As emo enjoys its unprecedented revival, This Wild Life are unquestionably leading the charge on the acoustic front.
BEN TIPPLE