
I previously stated, upon the release of this band’s debut single, that Once Were Wild “….had old musos souls” and I have to reiterate that Alanna, Georgia, Renee, Sean and Andrew still do.
‘Wanderlust’ with its carefully interwoven keyboard/synth sounds, led by Alana’s vocals and more than capable guitar and percussion accompaniment has continued the tradition of powerful dream rock as written and performed by this band. Alana’s soaring voice just flows along like another instrument within the band and hence interplays with the band at a high level; the lead guitar breaks in at the right time and all band members turn this into a number that is instantly recognisable and yet new and refreshing.
At times, I have to admit, I’d like to see this band just burst out into some neo-psychedelia as I think it is just on the edge of it and would be an excellent purveyor of that genre, but having said that this is an evolving band and its musical maturity is there and recognisable for one and all to grab hold of and there is no need for unwarranted change!
Alana performs ‘The Shame’ in a manner only she could do: soulful, sultry, scintillating and lyrically sound. Her voice is not one of those pseudo wispy ones, but one full of refreshment and the band knows just how to interact with her and her with them, a process that normally takes a long time to develop and one not shared by many other bands.
Once Were Wild remain in a genre and category of their own and have no current equals. ‘Dreamfield’ is an EP to hold onto, listen contentedly to and to seek out all the instrumentation that is so carefully balanced throughout.
Tony Bates
Uncut and Unsigned
www.3MDR.com
‘Wanderlust’ with its carefully interwoven keyboard/synth sounds, led by Alana’s vocals and more than capable guitar and percussion accompaniment has continued the tradition of powerful dream rock as written and performed by this band. Alana’s soaring voice just flows along like another instrument within the band and hence interplays with the band at a high level; the lead guitar breaks in at the right time and all band members turn this into a number that is instantly recognisable and yet new and refreshing.
At times, I have to admit, I’d like to see this band just burst out into some neo-psychedelia as I think it is just on the edge of it and would be an excellent purveyor of that genre, but having said that this is an evolving band and its musical maturity is there and recognisable for one and all to grab hold of and there is no need for unwarranted change!
Alana performs ‘The Shame’ in a manner only she could do: soulful, sultry, scintillating and lyrically sound. Her voice is not one of those pseudo wispy ones, but one full of refreshment and the band knows just how to interact with her and her with them, a process that normally takes a long time to develop and one not shared by many other bands.
Once Were Wild remain in a genre and category of their own and have no current equals. ‘Dreamfield’ is an EP to hold onto, listen contentedly to and to seek out all the instrumentation that is so carefully balanced throughout.
Tony Bates
Uncut and Unsigned
www.3MDR.com