The long-running UK alt-rockers Wolf Alice swerved in a pop direction on last year's The Clearing, and that's not the last pivot they have in them.
Today, ahead of a headlining hometown gig at London's Finsbury Park this Sunday, Ellie Rowsell and the boys have announced The Clearing (B Sides), essentially a digital deluxe edition of the album with three bonus tracks. The three B-sides will also be released together on 7" vinyl.
"These are a few songs we made during The Clearing that didn’t make it on the final record, but are ones we love very much, including a cover with two of our fave singers Julia Cumming and Bria Salmena - we’re happy to have found a home for them for you to hear. Enjoy."
The cover featuring Cumming (of Sunflower Bean) and Salmena (ex-Frigs) is the Roches' classic "Hammond Song." I can't wait to hear them harmonizing with Rowsell on that one. In the meantime, the first B-side out the gate is the sparse, flickering "Gospel Oak." In concert, Wolf Alice have led into this song with traditional folk instrumentals, but the recording is pure indie piano ballad. Rowsell's textured performance here really draws me in.
Listen below.
TRACKLIST:
01 "Gospel Oak"
02 "Hammond Song"
03 "Hit The Sky"
The Clearing (B Sides) is out 8/21 on RCA. Pre-order it here.
