Originally a Folk-leaning acoustic duo of Ellie Rowsell and Joff Oddie, Wolf Alice formed in London, England, some 15 years ago. The result of a shift toward electric and heavier sounds, Wolf Alice brought in Drummer Joel Amey and Bassist Theo Ellis in 2012, and has remained together with the same lineup since.
Breaking through with their 2014 single “Moaning Lisa Smile” (which earned the band a Grammy Nomination), from here they found broader success with their 2015 debut album My Love Is Cool (which is certified gold in the UK), 2017’s Visions of a Life (also achieving gold status in the UK), before hitting number one on the UK charts in 2021 with Blue Weekend (again, going gold in their home country).
Remarkable achievements, Wolf Alice’s influences span across genres, from Grunge and Shoegaze to Pop, Folk, and even Electronic pioneers. Citing artists like David Bowie, Kate Bush, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Carole King, among their inspirations, they have also stated that Nirvana, Hole, and Pixies have shaped their heavier, guitar-driven sound. At the same time, My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive have influenced their layered, atmospheric textures. With a melodic foundation, their songs possess lyrical depth and emotional range, all while featuring a contemporary sonic edge.
Digging deeper, Ellie Rowsell’s personal inspirations are “ever changing,” mixing childhood heroes with discoveries, with emphasis on bravery in genre-blending, refusing to be boxed in, writing both left-field experiments and Pop anthems. Anyway you cut it, Wolf Alice is an intriguing band with an ethereal sound, and now they return in 2025 with The Cleaning.
Arriving on August 22, 2025, through Sony Music, The Clearing hits No. 1 in the UK within a week. Again, extremely impressive, for this go-around, they teamed with award-winning Producer Greg Kurstin, securing a relatively rich sound. Covering 11 songs totaling 40 minutes (the longest track clocking in at 4:30), The Clearing‘s ’70s weighty music brought to the 21st century, starting with “Thorns” that aptly talks about scars and coming back from said scars, while “Safe In the World” talks about wanting to feel safe in a relationship. Finally, “Passenger Seat” reminds us of the Bangles vocally and musically, as Roswell reminds us of the vulnerability of intimacy and of depending on someone.
This is while “Bloom Baby Bloom” channels Blondie vocally and musically, right down to the delivery. Rowsell refers to this track as her Axl Rose from a female perspective, with its defiant lyrics. Then you have “Just Two Girls” revisiting the lounge/coffee shop vibe while “Play It Out” brings Rowsell out the other side, reclaiming her identity. Looking at the latter, it is a poignant piece, just Rowsell and her piano with some light accompaniment.
Moving forward, “Bread Butter Tea Sugar” has a fun head-bopping tune reminiscent of, say, the Monkees. At the same time, it talks about the day-to-day things done in love, and “Leaning Against the Wall” vocally reminds you of Susanna Hoffs and the Bangles era as Rowsell sings in an intimate venue, with sounds of tenderness, recognition, and presence. This leads us to “Midnight Song,” which is a lyrically dark, sweet piece to finish the sentiment. Very visual, you can almost see someone looking out at the night sky, singing this to the ether, their knees drawn up, thinking about their partner.
Overall, Ellie Roswell’s voice is pure with no sense of irony or cynicism, and there is a beauty in that. Matching the rest of Wolf Alice, they create another enjoyable album in The Clearing, which Cryptic Rock gives 5 out of 5 stars.
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