Record Review: Wavves - Wavvves

via Ragged Words
Artist: Wavves
Release Date: 1 Jun 2009
Record Label: Bella Union
In Three Words: Fuck Being Bored
Ragged Rating: 4/5

By Daniel Greenwood

This time last year British-based label Bella Union were celebrating the release of Fleet Foxes self-titled debut, a record which is generally considered 2008’s best. This in itself couldn’t be more different to Wavves - Bella Union’s newest acquisition - but where Nathan Williams, the creator of Wavves, and Rob Pecknold, the captain of the Fleet Foxes quintet, differ stylistically, they do share a level of precociousness. Even without considering American imports Beach House, Abe Vigoda or Peter Broderick, Bella Union is getting it right, in a big way. And for Wavves’ first British shows, the hosting label are alongside the wondrous Upset the Rhythm in bringing a dearth of talented North American musicians to the UK. If signing this Californian protégé was a risk, it’s paid-off.

Wavvves delivers on the blog hype of the past twelve months, but it also simmers with a sense of promise. Williams’ songs are messy but never hazy, underwritten by an existential angst that’s oft identified by indie musicians today, but never captured as simply as does Williams. The cases in point here are ‘So Bored’, a paean to an insufferably dull city-life – too much stuff, too little worth – and ‘No Hope Kids’: “Got no God/Got no girlfriend/Got nothing at all”. It’s a wonderful noise-pop antidote to those of us struggling for fulfillment in 2009. And, thankfully, Wavvves is a cathartic experience.

There are occasions where Williams allows the fuzz to fill the would-be empty corners of these songs, he slows things down and in doing so reveals an introspective tint to the assuredness of more straightforward anthemic clangers like ‘No Hope Kids’. The sweetly experimental ‘Goth Girls’ and ‘Weed Demon’ offer another take on Wavves’ boundless witticisms, as Williams lets his guard down, highlighting a lingering melancholy unrequited elsewhere on Wavvves. But before you know it the lad’s hammering his guitar, the cymbals are thrashing and Williams is reveling in the insatiable boredom of this modern life.