Wild Beasts - Smother (2011) [Domino] // Grade: A-

Scott Walker’s name gets thrown around a lot lately. With good reason. Ever since Bryan Ferry and David Bowie sat in front of a mirror and dreamt about being the next Scott, his legacy has become greater than cult; it is the stuff of legends. That is why it is funny that not many get it right.  Walker’s power has always come from the combination of elements that make his sound. Art house poetry, silky smooth vocals and difficult musical arrangements are all integral components of the signature sound of Scott Walker. Without one, the entire equation is thrown off and the results are usually boring as hell.

Modern name droppers often fail to make the mark when it comes down to it, but Wild Beats may have succeeded where so many have failed. On their third lp, Smother, the British band get the formula correct. Equal parts baroque pop, Baudelairian lyricism and indie pop sensibilities, Wild Beasts have crafted an album that draws from the past, yet creates a sound all its own. Picture a toned down Jamie Stewart, perhaps the only other artist to come close to perfecting the dread arts of Scott Walker’s dark concrète.

Wild Beasts have developed a sound that comes close to true Gothic, in the literary sense of the word. Like Walker’s work, Smother is a study in high theatrics, not camp. Deep and brooding, the album is built upon a layer of electronics, similar to the Walker Brothers 1978 Nite Flights LP. Taken on lyrical merit, Smother scores more marks as a masterpiece. Songs like “Loop the Loop” and “Invisible” are expressions in pure malaise. This all sounds like the recipe for quite a difficult time, but oddly enough Smother finds itself enormously listenable. With its touches of Roxy Music and even hints and modern English rock à la Coldplay, Wild Beasts have found themselves with a mature yet adventurous album. Definitely one of the best of the year so far.

- Nattymari