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February 27, 2007

New Patrick Wolf - "The Magic Position"

Loving everything about precocious pop prodigy Patrick Wolf's forthcoming, third record The Magic Position, starting with the rumbling toms and violins of "Overture" right through the bittersweet, cadential symphony of "Finale." Along the way, Patrick spikes tunes with a collage of violins, guitars, grimey synths, big beats, and his West End ready voice. The 23-year-old has crafted a truly great and complex record, but the title track is a deceptive intro to the album: Yep, there will be wild style swings and nuanced moods to come, but on this slice of glam, jubilant pop, Wolf shows that love can feel as simple as an ascending major scale. It's the rest of the record and/or life where things get a little more complicated.

Patrick Wolf - "The Magic Position" (MP3)

Hear some more (like the excellent first single "Accident & Emergency" and "Bluebells") at MySpace.

The Magic Position is available now in the UK on Polydor, on 5/1 in the US on Low Altitude/Universal.

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23 Comments

This album is amazing, i've had it on repeat since i got it yesterday, i like how unashamedly pop it is, but still with touches of his old style.

Posted by: DanReddy at 02/27/07 10:34 AM | Reply
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yikes, this song is awful.

Posted by: riley at 02/27/07 12:29 PM | Reply
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Stereogum, thank you for covering something that doesn't horribly suck. This record is brilliant.

Posted by: Sean at 02/27/07 12:38 PM | Reply
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this album is awful and the man is a fake

Posted by: anon at 02/27/07 2:36 PM | Reply
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best record of 2007.

Posted by: g at 02/27/07 3:13 PM | Reply
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yes anon, besmirch a man's name, call him a fake. anon, that's not a fake name, right? at least you are principled. i will take your opinion seriously. thank you.

btw, love patrick wolf. if you couldn't guess.

Posted by: james at 02/27/07 3:13 PM | Reply
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I think he was one of Bloc Party's original supporters, so give the man a little credit. I think he's talented. Can't say I love all his music, but Accident and Emergency is a pretty good cut.

Posted by: dudeasincool at 02/27/07 3:57 PM | Reply
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This is the greatest album ever.

Posted by: Martin at 02/27/07 8:23 PM | Reply
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this album is awful, and patrick wolf is literally gay.

Posted by: pat at 02/27/07 10:44 PM | Reply
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Oh my God! Gay? LITERALLY?!

Posted by: Matt B at 02/27/07 11:07 PM | Reply
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I'M GAY FOR PATRICK'S MAGIC POSITION...'ACCIDENT + EMERGENCY' IS DEFINITELY IN HEAVY ROTATION. MAD PROPS TO STEREOGUM FOR COVERING HIM.

Posted by: RAYRADDIO at 02/28/07 12:00 AM | Reply
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He's bisexual, actually.

Posted by: Martin at 02/28/07 1:37 PM | Reply
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Pat meant that the album fills him with awe, and that Patrick Wolf is literately gay.

Posted by: someguy at 02/28/07 6:51 PM | Reply
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Bi now, gay later is what I say.

Posted by: Matt B at 02/28/07 10:41 PM | Reply
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i'm tired of reading articles that praise this kid endlessly and worship him, but this song, "the magic position", it's audio crack. i can't stop listening to it. help.

Posted by: mc at 03/01/07 3:29 PM | Reply
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Its a good album, but the thing is you either Love it or Hate it. And yes, Patrick Wolf is literally gay, but who cares as long as he puts out good music?

Posted by: Matt at 03/02/07 8:09 AM | Reply
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Oh, so, as long as he puts out good music it's ok if he's gay? But if he falters then we, what, beat the shit out of him? Hmm. Stereogummers get so up in their tights when the gay comes to town. Can't see how it matters besides placing him in a long tradition of awesome.

Posted by: Matthew at 03/02/07 11:13 AM | Reply
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Well... Actually he's bisexual.

Oh and I love this album with all from head, shoulders, down to my knees and toes.

Posted by: Reid at 03/02/07 8:39 PM | Reply
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Just one question: is 'Finale' supposed to ..skip skip skip at the end?
i assume so, since every mp3 i've downloaded has it.. but its kind of an unfortunate end to such an organic beautiful album.

Patrick, you are the sex.

Posted by: Matt P at 03/05/07 7:15 PM | Reply
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'Finale' doesn't skip at the end, Matt P. You must be listening to a downloaded copy?

Anyway, I must say that Patrick Wolf is fantastic and his new album is equally fantastic.

Posted by: Bee at 03/06/07 3:43 PM | Reply
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for some reason, i amuse myself thinking what if patrick and owen pallett got together. they look alike, kind of. yes... it amuses me.

Posted by: pearl at 03/06/07 6:53 PM | Reply
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All the comments about wether he is gay/bi shouldnt even come in to it. yeah okay so im 14 and you probably think young and niave but it is about the songs which are fantastic they have opened my eyes to real pop music not sugar coated supposedly 'sexy' songs.
Patrick Wolf is amazing

Posted by: Dani at 03/17/07 5:33 PM | Reply
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I love Patrick.. but I enjoy his old albums much more than this. Lycanthropy and Wind in the Wires are so much more magical than The Magic Position. I think the new one is a little dissapointing.

Posted by: Michele at 04/07/07 5:01 PM | Reply
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