EXCLUSIVE REVIEW: Wooden Arms – ‘Tide’

Wooden Arms - Tide

I recently read an article titled ‘Is Classical Music Dying?’. Of course, the answer to this question is heavily disputed. If you’re of the opinion that yes, classical music is doomed and has had its day, I suggest you listen to this album.

Wooden Arms are an alternative classical sextet, hailing from England. They are signed to the German indie label Butterfly Collectors, and will soon be releasing their six track debut album ‘Tide’.
I’ve been given an exclusive first listen of the album, thanks to the wonderful people at Butterfly Collectors. The debut album is released on October 6th in the UK, and will be available as a CD, MP3 or a crystal clear vinyl.

The album opener is the completely sensational ‘December’. It begins with flowing, delicate violin, and is soon pipped with riffs of piano and rolling drums that echo through the track. The harmonised vocals brush over the listener, and the constant licks of strings rally in your ear drum. Every element of this track comes together to create a powerful, incredibly beautiful piece of music.

Up next is ‘Vicenarian’. The tracks shows clear elements of folk, and for the first minute or so seems set to break into a kind of jig, the turning point comes with a charge of harrowing drums and subtle streams of violin. Symbols crash amongst waves of strings and harmonies, with impeccable vocals fading in and out across the track.
The third track and centre point of the album is the utterly beautiful title track ‘Tide’. The track begins with a meandering violin melody, and is soon joined by warming vocals. The mixture of soft piano riffs and incredible warping strings is beautiful. ‘Tide’ is over five minutes long, and every single second of it is euphoric. Think Sigur Ros, but in English.

Tide’ is full of smooth vocals, which harmonise constantly, layered above an irresistible coming together of climactic symbols, and layers of sound so deep and warming that you could bathe in them. The lyricism of ‘Tide’ is beautiful and thought provoking:

“It’s better to die, amongst the living,
Than to live, amongst the dead”

A completely beautiful track, full of emotion and sensitivity, enough to make your hairs stand up on end and demand silence from an entire room full of people.

Track number four, ‘Waiting’ is the same story, delicate, whimsical, with melancholic undertones, it folds and flows, calming but full to burst with energy. The penultimate song of the six track release is ‘Noah’. The track is the shortest of the album at 3 and a half minutes long, and due to atmospheric vocals and climactic instrumentation it grows into a solid track.

The final track, ‘False Start’, has delicate piano chords that are met with gentle, swaying vocals, reminiscent of those found on the more impressive Of Monsters and Men tracks. Melodic, sorrowful swathes of violin lead up to the tracks Volta. A change comes with a cackling roll of snare, and the echo of a bass drum that sets the song up for a casually joyful, completely whimsical end. A catchy, brilliantly written song, for me, along with ‘December’ and the title track, a highlight of the album.

All in all, ‘Tide’ is an emotive, beautifully crafted album. Every detail is so meticulously refined and delicate, it becomes a mass of beautiful piano, strings, percussion and harmonious vocals. A set of tracks that are so full of texture and endearing character; Wooden Arms have found the balance between classical music that is genuinely appealing to mass audiences and complex musical technique that will gain the respect of those in the field.

If a band is going to change how you feel about classical music, I’d put my money on it being Wooden Arms.

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