Patrick Wolf discovered the violin at age six, started taking lessons, and then around age eleven he was dipping his fingers into four-track recording. At fourteen, he joined the pop-art collective Minty, and that was how Fat Cat Records spotted him, and they supplied computer and mixing tools to help fuel his creativity. At sixteen, Wolf formed Maison Crimineaux, which eventually found its way to France where the noisy duo played a show attended by electronic maestro Kristian Robinson (Capitol K), who went on to release Wolf’s 2003 debut. Because of the popularity and critical eye on Lacanthropy, he moved to the Trinity College Music Conservatoire to study composition, and birthed from his studies was Wind in the Wires, a dark and enchanting sophmore album and great follow up to Lacanthropy.
Due for release February 26th is Wolf’s newest album, The Magic Position, the third addition to this 23 year-old’s outstanding career. The album starts with Overture, which is more in line with the style of his previous albums and then slides into different experimental sounds- adding a more electronica style to his newer and stranger (but just as loved) compositions. My love for Wolf has nothing to do with his eclectic taste (though that helps) or the fact that because of it we currently share the same hair color. His voice has always reminded me of Steven Morrissey, lead singer for The Smiths, who also has a stand alone career- it’s deep, throaty, and young, but really stretches for this album. It’s a refreshing change from those clogged nasal voices plauged among the “punk” and “emo” genres out there today. His style is his own and it really shines through. Despite the release date set for late February, it seems as though it’s already leaked on the internet and file sharing programs (I must be the only person on this planet my age that still insists on buying CDs) and fans everywhere have been falling over themselves in search of high quality torrents. I give The Magic Position two thumbs up- he’s shooting his way over the top. Don’t forget to check out the podcast included below for a live performance of “Augustine” and an interview right from his London flat! Oh and also, we’re also anticipating new Final Fantasy, Iron & Wine, Moby, and The Sea & Cake, to name just a few. ; )
Cheers!
Overture
The Magic Position
Magpie
- Overture
- The Magic Position
- Accident & Emergency
- The Bluebell
- Bluebells
- Magpie
- The Kiss
- Augustine
- Secret Garden
- (Let’s Go) Get Lost
- Enchanted
- The Stars
- Finale
