Patrick Wolf : The Magic Position

<a href="Reviews/Album_Reviews/Patrick_Wolf_%3A_The_Magic_Position/"><img src="http://www.qromag.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/patrickwolf.jpg" alt=" " /></a> Patrick Wolf has a somewhat prodigious quality to his music.  Not only is he young (23), he can play about a dozen instruments.  ...
8.4 Loog
2007 

 Patrick Wolf has a somewhat prodigious quality to his music.  Not only is he young (23), he can play about a dozen instruments.   But beyond that, he’s got a vastly mature ability to write a complicated pop song, in a way that’s isn’t contrived, and speaks to a deep natural ability.  Combining more than a handful of orchestral sounds and electronic effects with raw pop beats, Wolf has made a thorough adventure out of his third album, The Magic Position.

The album spans genres of chamber pop, glam, and lounge, all held together by his throaty vocals and introspective vocals.  An especially nice touch on the album, in all its professionalism, is how Wolf, at times, preserves the rough edges on drum noises and electronic effects.  The smattering drums and glitchy effects in "Accidents & Emergency" work through the pop sound effectively, giving it an energetic, carnival feel.  With even more energy, "The Magic Position" bounces along with violins and keys skating atop a continuous, thumping beat.  These upbeat tracks provide a strong contrast to the more somber piano-based songs in the second half of the album.

The Magic Position coolly makes use of several tempos, especially the slower songs on roughly the second half, beginning with "Magpie".  Marianne Faithfull contributes vocals to the melancholy ballad in a somber duet.  "Augustine" has a rainy feel, with light drumming under a shuffling acoustic guitar and Wolf’s mournful vocals.  "Enchanted" has a piano-bar quality, that yet again, is a more mature sound than his age would indicate.  These songs on dark side of The Magic Position is what makes the lighter side even that much better.

On his third album, Patrick Wolf shows why he’s becoming such a highly-respected young artist.  His music crosses several genres while also maintaining several levels of energy.  The Magic Position continues to push Wolf’s music intelligence well beyond his years.

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