Music Critic Hannah Gadd applauds Wolf Alice for their atmospheric pop cover of In The Bleak Midwinter
Wolf Alice’s reimagining of ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’ is a perfectly unique spin on a festive classic seeing the alternative band transform the traditional song into one rich with ethereal vocals and intricate instrumentals. Last year lead singer Ellie Roswell shared in an interview with Apple Music, “I like the lyrics, but most of all, I like the melody. And when I was listening to it, I thought that there was something quite pop about the melody, and I was interested to hear what it would sound like if it was done in a more poppy way.” Her fascination with the original piece and its pop potential translated delightfully into the cover.
…the alternative band transform the traditional song into one rich with ethereal vocals and intricate instrumentals.
The track opens with eerie synths and a distorted, chopped vocal creating an introduction which strays away from the more classical, previous renditions of ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’. Light and airy vocals sit delicately on the alternative-pop track alongside their flawlessly executed musical choices producing a cosily intimate piece which I find transcends the band’s existing covers. Roswell’s voice sounds both gentle and confident creating a beautifully distinctive sound, both authentic to the original track whilst pushing it into a new sonic direction.
Abundant with sophisticated acoustics and pop synths, ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’ showcases Wolf Alice’s capacity to interpret and redesign traditional music using engaging pop elements. Wonderfully sombre, the track possesses a dream-like soundscape enhanced by mellow sound effects and electro-pop elements making the cover a remarkable release after their extremely well-received third album ‘Blue Weekend’.
Rating: 7/10
Enjoyed this? You also might enjoy:
Album Review: The Wombats – Is This What It Feels Like To Feel Like This? – EP
Comments