Since earlyย beginnings on SoundCloud, recent new management, and establishing themselves deep in the style of classic American country and folk-pop, London-based act,ย The Wandering Hearts,ย are making waves, and making them quickly. Having recently kicked off their biggest UK tour yet, the group have found themselves stepping into a whole new year on a massive high, currently working their way through sold out venue after sold out venue, and riding the momentum of the release of debut 2018 record,ย Wild Silence.ย
Incorporating flavours ofย Fleetwood Mac, alongside clear influence from the likes of modern folk-rock acts,ย The Lumineersย yย Mumford and Sons,ย Wild Silenceโs introductory โRattleโ expresses plenty of the albumโs direction in crystal clear succession; with twangy acoustic instrumentation, a chirpy palm-muted lead guitar and taking full advantage ofย Tara Wilcoxย yย Francesca Whiffinโs shared harmonies, โRattleโ startsย Wild Silenceย off on an immediate high. This is closely followed up by the lively โFire and Waterโ, a bouncy staccato riff and soaring chorus ofย โthereโs something in the water โ starts a fire, feel like I should warn ya โ but I never learnโ, before the track finally deconstructs into an almost gospel bridge of repeatedย โoh ooh, thatโs what I need (thatโs what I need).โย
Shifting the albumโs pace, โChange For The Goodโ steersย Wild Silenceย into moreย Fleetwood Mac,ย Say You Willย territory, noticeably emulating the likes of โIllumeโ, while โBiting Through The Wiresโ embraces a far more gritty, southern rock-esque acoustic riff, lyrically focusing on desperate triumph through adversity;ย โbiting through the wires, taking all the shocks just to find a spark โ find a spark.โย The track finds itself contrasted with the previous โDevilโ, playing into a far more self-sacrificial tone, albeit still maintaining a vibrant, uplifting character to juxtapose its own admittance ofย โyou can call me the devil in disguise, I donโt care โ call me anything you like.โ
While much ofย The Wandering Heartsโ style throughoutย Wild Silenceย certainly finds itself on a more uplifting level, the album is perhaps at its best when exploring more personal, intimate ideas. Indeed, where the album truly hits the mark is seen through the far more solemn atmosphere of โLaid In The Groundโ, a haunting reflection on a funeral for both those held closest, or indeed the writer themselves;ย โthereโs a letter in my bedside drawer โ waiting there to be found. Though I go with you, I wonโt return โ when youโve laid me in the ground.โย Alternatively, โHeartbreak Hotelโ faces the typical wounds and hurt expected from such a title, yet resists falling into something lacking any real substance through a gorgeous vocal performance, while also incorporating a few more conventional pop elements along the way.
Ultimately, considering the record as a whole, The Wandering Heartsย have plenty to be proud of on their 2018 debut. With a slight misstep or two along the way, โWish I Couldโ and โIf I Fallโ both being sweet enough, albeit a little lacklustre and causing the album to drag slightly,ย Wild Silenceย certainly still offers plenty of an enjoyable experience through some truly fantastic material. The London-based group are confident enough to follow their strengths, and the aforementioned โRattleโ and โHeartbreak Hotelโ both stand as testaments to a style done right. If it wasnโt already obvious enough, revisiting โLaid In The Groundโ offers plenty evidence to the groupโs ability to captivate; beautiful mellow instrumentation alongside crooning vocals and sweet harmonies, the chorus offers a pang of bittersweet determination, through repetitions ofย โsaid I wouldnโt leave you alone โ and I didnโt. Said I wouldnโt leave you alone โ and I didnโt. Said I wouldnโt leave you alone.โ