Cai Burns, the mastermind behind Blood Wizard, returns with his sophomore album, Grinning William, set to drop on October 25th via Sad Club Records. Following the critically acclaimed debut, Western Spaghetti, Burns has solidified his reputation as one of the UK’s most underrated songwriters, deftly crafting arresting hooks and introspective lyrics. Grinning William promises a shift from the alt-folk leanings of his debut, embracing a fuller sound that showcases the evolution of his artistry.
Recorded with producer Theo Verney at Echo Zoo Studios, Grinning William is infused with collaborative spirit. Featuring band members Faye Robinson on vocals and keyboards, Tom Towle on second guitar, Ben Davis on bass, and Adrian Cook on drums, the album benefits from their creative input, allowing for spontaneous experimentation. With just three days in the studio, tracks evolved significantly from their demo versions, revealing an openness that led to unexpected creative turns.
From the outset, the album’s opener, ‘sciencefiction,’ serves as a poignant farewell to the soft tones of Western Spaghetti, featuring a pared-down guitar arrangement and a dreamy vocal drawl that harkens back to the stylings of Kurt Vile. The title track, ‘Grinning William,’ quickly shifts gears, layering beefy guitars with a feedback-drenched backdrop, marking a new era in Blood Wizard’s sound. This transition from reflective melodies to gritty, slung-low guitar riffs is indicative of Burns’ willingness to explore heavier textures.
The quick one-two punch of ‘Apples + Oranges’ and ‘Devil Dressed in Disguise’ captures the urgency that permeates the album. The former channels a fizzy, American college rock vibe, while the latter features angular guitar picking that jolts the senses. Amidst these vibrant soundscapes, Burns retains his signature wry observational humour, skilfully tackling themes of disillusionment and emotional connections. The standout track, ‘BIG FISH,’ encapsulates this lyrical prowess, reflecting on the intricacies of relationships with lines like, “I thought I was big fish, turns out I was bait.”
Elsewhere, the single ‘Back2bed’ delves into the complexity of solitude, where Burns embraces the melancholic beauty of retreating from the world. He articulates, “It’s not really good or bad; it can just be nice to avoid the world sometimes,” capturing the essence of introspection with honesty and warmth. Soon after, the album closes with the emphatic ‘Higher Energy!,’ a cathartic culmination of the emotional journey that runs throughout Grinning William. Here, layers of guitar build to an exhilarating peak, driven by a robust bass line, leaving listeners with a sense of acceptance and resilience.
Grinning William marks a significant step forward for Blood Wizard, blending influences from the likes of Alex G, Cate Le Bon, and Dean Blunt, while remaining undeniably singular in vision. The album showcases Burns’ ability to pack a bustling array of ideas into concise, three-minute pop songs that are both catchy and introspective. As Blood Wizard embarks on a UK headline tour later this year, culminating at The Lexington in London, it’s clear that Grinning William is poised to resonate deeply with fans old and new.
While time will tell if it propels Burns into the wider spotlight, one thing is certain: Grinning William is a record destined to be revisited, an album that captures the nuances of existence through the lens of an artist unafraid to evolve. In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, Blood Wizard offers an invitation to embrace the complexity of emotions, making Grinning William a compelling and rewarding listen.
