Wings Of Desire by Holly Whitaker
Wings Of Desire are possessed with a demonstrable sense of purpose that cuts right through.
‘Dream pop’ is a malleable concept really. When reviewers or writers attach the moniker to a band, the listener knows broadly what to expect: fuzzy, ethereal, hazy songs where the arrangement is second to the sonics, and it can feel – in truth – a bit rudderless.
Not so for Stroud duo Wings Of Desire who, it’s fair to say, do drench their music in reverb and echo, but singer James Taylor is possessed with a demonstrable sense of purpose that cuts right through. Tonight’s (February 21st) show, the first of the tour (and their longest to date, as Chloe Little – on keys and the other half of the band – informs us) feels very much like a marker being laid down.
Opener Runnin’ lulls the crowd into believing otherwise with a slow build-up before waves of cleansing synths and guitar envelope the venue, Taylor’s incandescent cry of, ‘Come on baby, give me a hand’, adding to the sense of catharsis.
Excellent early single Choose A Life (‘choose a life, find a job, get a wife, fuck it all’) follows, the sound of teenage dreams told from an adult’s perspective with Taylor and Little winding around the catchy chorus in conjunction.
The set consists of their Wings Of Desire’s fine debut album (Life Is Infinite, released late last year) played in non-chronological order, which was described as, ’13 notes and reflections on the human experience’.
As such, it’s sometimes a tough listen, especially with many of its mantras and observations repeated incessantly to ram home the point.
Better Late Than Never is a prime example, as Taylor apparently reflects on the band’s late development (‘sometimes I sit down and wonder where I’d be’) against a backdrop of garage rock reminiscent of early Kings Of Leon.
Likewise, the U2-esque Be Here Now (other references not from the 1990s are available) as Taylor spits the hook, ‘A life that is wasted’, repeatedly, a moment of venom in an otherwise calming track.
Elsewhere, the glistening In A Perfect World stomps rather than sways, while the military snare deflects what would otherwise be a perfect Arcade Fire impression on A Gun In Every House.
In contrast to Taylor’s single-mindedness, Little is relaxed and calm on keys and co-vocals, taking the lead on the appropriately heavenly Angels, offering up a brief prayer before being consumed by the feedback and tremolo.
Wings Of Desire’s set culminates in Made Of Love which, had it been released by the likes of Bono and his pals, would be revered; a widescreen anthem with a great message in dark times (‘We are made of love’), before closing track 001 (Tame The World, Feed The Fire).
The philosophical lyrics (‘If Google is our saviour, is Jesus an enslaver?’) come second to the music; a bass-driven, New Order-ey piece with a wonderfully arrogant kiss-off: ‘Tame the way, feed the fire, you can’t deny the wings of desire’.
In a just world, that will be true.