Rating: NNNN
The Wilderness are well known in pockets of Toronto for their high-energy live performances, all-out glitter-filled dance parties. So it’s surprising to find their debut record a dark, elegantly crafted and, yes, subtle slice of post-punk.
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It’s bursting with crisp riffs, bouncy bass lines and atmospheric Ian Curtisy vocals, but instead of throwing everything at the wall at once, the band keeps a keen eye on the details. Production and pace often get overlooked on a band’s first go, but not here.
Spread over 28 minutes, the five songs blend to form a continuous suite. By tempering exuberant moments with textured, groove-based passages, the shoegaze-style noise jams actually feel earned. But if you’d rather just have the party starter, head straight to Realpolitik, a crunchy synth-rocker straight out of the Interpol playbook.
Top track: Realpolitik
The Wilderness play the Institute for the Enjoyment of Music tonight (Thursday, December 16) and the Velvet Underground December 31.