New Music: Wildes - Illuminate

“I am reckless for your love,” intones Wildes on her second release Illuminate, the follow up to Bare. 

The chemical rush of passion, lighting up a dark world, runs deep through this powerful track. “I’m on fire can’t you see me burning up,” she sings as she piles on the emotion. Quick someone give this woman a cold shower before it all becomes too much and goes horribly wrong. Actually no, don’t, because (and excuse my evil sentiment here) there’s nothing better for art and music and its creative process than a tortured and heartbroken soul. 

But until that (almost inevitable) downfall, you can enjoy Illuminate below. Bare found a lot of comparisons to the work of Daughter, but here Wildes expands her sonic palette somewhat; although as the gritty and reverb laden guitars wash over the song towards the end there’s certainly some of the same emotionally arresting atmospherics to be had as those produced by Elena Tonra and co.

Get ready to lose yourself in this.

Wildes - Illuminate

New Music: Introducing - Wildes

The press release that accompanied this song by West London lass Ella Walker, who goes by the artist name of Wildes, suggested that Bare, her first official release (a bit of digging online will find various other bits and bobs, including Ella participating in a very Staves like cover version of Mumford and Sons song Timshel) would probably draw some comparisons to Elena Tonra of Daughter fame. It wasn’t wrong. Let’s face it, the guitars paint virtually the same atmospheric soundscape and even the title of the song sounds like something that Daughter might have come up with.

So apologies if you’re looking for something groundbreaking and original. Bare isn’t it. Go and ask Thom Yorke to fart into a can, put a distorted beat over it and call it Bz23 + Norsk45 = tieduplittlepiggy if you want that. But if like me you’re happy to wallow in something that’s raw, sensitive and supremely lovely, whatever the similarities, then press play.

Wildes - Bare