I first became aware of Australian artist Wilding because of his work with Welsh legend Cian Ciarán of Super Furry Animals. Wilding has made marvelous stuff on his own, but perhaps none so marvelous as this new record. The Death of Foley's Mall, out today, is elegant chamber rock mixed with flashes of power pop.
"Swipe Right" and "The World Will End Today" sound not only like Super Furry Animals, but Blur circa The Great Escape, while "Losing Teeth" is more spacious still. This one, like a few others here, is a ballad that owes as much to High Llamas as it does to any more obvious point of inspiration like solo Lennon. "You've Never Looked So Beautiful as Now" is even better, a building melody carrying this one into a really special place.
The Death of Foley's Mall is a kind of concept album, but the selections work on their own. Wilding may be trying to be the Ray Davies of Australia and he might be succeeding a little bit. Fans of Utopia Parkway-era Fountains of Wayne will also find lots of this enjoyable. That said, Wilding's way with a melody recalls Britpop-era bands more than it does those Yanks in FoW. This is a record which is elegant and lush in spots, but also one full of enough energy to earn it favorable comparisons to mid-period Supergrass, for example.
The Death of Foley's Mall is out today via the link below.
More details on Wilding via the official Facebook page.
[Photo: Hamish Hartnell]