Uplifting melodies contrasted with lyrical pessimism – it’s a combination that exists in some of the greatest pop songs and one which Othello Woolf puts to good use on his self-titled debut album. Written in the midst of a break up, the 10 tracks that comprise the LP often give the illusion of a world more sunny but dig a little deeper, listen a little closer and that facade soon melts away to reveal the true pain and sadness within.
Surprisingly, considering the context of the record, it’s a sexy, sultry listen for the most part. The murmured montone intro to ‘Deep Water’ followed by the hushed verses and distorted climax are provocatively moody whilst ‘Hampstead Heath’’s saucy lyrics perfectly sum up the rush of a relationship in its formative stages and all there is to explore.
Musical seductiveness aside, one of Woolf’s main strengths on this album lies within his voice. Slipping with ease from the baritone burr of ‘Every Moment’ to the flawless falsetto on ‘Confidence Barometer’, the control and range within his vocals results in unpredictable changes throughout the record, keeping proceedings fresh and excitingly erratic.
Heavily disguised by 80s sonics, these vignettes of heartbreak and wistful nostalgia stand out for Woolf’s refusal to dress them up in what is fashionable and ‘now’, instead staying true to his vision, however separate that might be. The silky funk of early single ‘Stand’ and constant appearances of phased synth sounds that Prince would be proud of (see ‘Doorstep’, ‘Confidence Barometer’ and ‘Orion’) ensure Othello Woolf sounds more like a record realised in 1981 rather than 2011 but, when it’s this blindingly brilliant, does that really matter?
Quite frankly, no. At the end of the day, Woolf’s eponymous debut is too full of talent and outstanding pop songs for zeitgeist and trends to come into it. It transcends the need to be pigeonholed alongside buzz bands in imaginary scenes; a record so independent and unique it can exist peacefully on it’s own.
[Rating: 4.5]
Release date: 05/09/2011
