Anonymous and mysterious New York based producer Wolf Colony won’t be able to hide in obscurity for much longer if his new album Unmasked is anything to go by. An eclectic blend of indie-pop and 80s synth-pop makes for a subtly electrifying and deeply contemplative album which will have you lost in thought.
A dark vein runs through the majority of the album; dark but not necessarily depressing. It’s more like an amorphous exploration of the self, with vast, existential ideas disappearing into the echoing fog of sound as quickly as they emerged. First track released off the album Paradise begins with a beautiful keyboard arrangement, followed up by some percussive beats, culminating in the monotonous refrain of ‘paradise’.
Pleasure follows suit, quietly building into a crescendo before quickly petering out. An abrupt halt at the end of each song seems to be a common theme for most of Wolf Colony’s album. But it’s an effect that leaves you hanging on for more as the deafening silence echoes all around you. Many of the track titles (as well as the tracks themselves) are singular words like Beauty, Holy and Calling, conceptually simple, yet laden with emotional anecdotes that could be applicable to anyone.
Based out of New York City, Wolf Colony is an anonymous singer-songwriter who began collaborating with music producer Neal Sarin in 2012 with no intention of pursuing a career as a recording artist. But rather than remaining anonymous, Wolf Colony has found a devoted following who hang off the beat of every on of his sparse arrangements, deep, resonate vocals and extremely personal lyricism. This is an album dedicated to the self; to be listened to while dancing on your own, doing chores or on a dark and windy road late at night. It’s an album that will stay with you long after the music has stopped.
Check out Paradise below: