When he’s not busy writing scores for films, Keegan DeWitt can be found conjuring up intriguing blends of electro pop with his newest partner in crime; Jeremy Bullock and so, Youth was born. Wild Cub have garnered attention from many respected publications such as SPIN and MTVhive following on from their rapturous debut at last year’s SXSW music festival.
Opening with ‘Shapeless’ its gradual intro creating a sense of depth in the listening atmosphere, Wild Cub show exactly why they are one of the most underrated and under-known bands of the moment.
With a title like ‘Straight No Turns’ it’s no surprise that linear pattern music is not what Wild Cubs are about at all. Edging into almost techno territory, with their ever so slight pulsating beat and melodic cooing of the backing vocal, it’s the most chilled out opening to a song I’ve heard in quite some time.
‘Wild Light’; like much of the rest of the record, is an exercise in controlled insanity as the electro keys that provide it with its heart and soul work their magic around DeWitt’s Bowie/Delphic/Hot Chip vocal blend. ‘Summer Fires/Hidden Spells’ has a more driven synth giving it a slightly darker edge than the opening track. Although slightly darker, it still remains upbeat and pulsating and so the tempo and momentum of the album is not dropped or changed for the worse.
Putting down most of their computers and choosing instead to pick up actual instruments like a traditional drum kit and a guitar, ‘Jonti’ is the furthest away Wild Cub get from their signature sound. DeWitt’s vocal style changes to a more upbeat Johnny Cash vibe but even as quite a marked departure from other tracks on the record, it is Wild cub through and through.
‘Windows’ is the musical equivalent of transcending into a black hole. The dripping electronic synth comes across as slightly cacophonous when coupled with the drum beat which; for being out of time with the rest of the track, is why it feels like time is slowing down and spiralling out of control. It is far from being the strongest track on Youth.
Having only been creating music for just over one year, Wild Cub are moving in the right direction and Youth is less scatty or irrational as a lot of debut records these days end up being. Perseverance is key to any band wishing to succeed in the music industry and I have no doubt that if wild Cub can stick to their guns and not be swayed by a more mainstream sound, then they have the potential to be some of the biggest stars of the underground scene.
Wild Cub - Youth
Out of 10: 7/10
Written by - Rachael Scarsbrook
Follow / [FACEBOOK]
Listen / [SOUNDCLOUD]
Opening with ‘Shapeless’ its gradual intro creating a sense of depth in the listening atmosphere, Wild Cub show exactly why they are one of the most underrated and under-known bands of the moment.
With a title like ‘Straight No Turns’ it’s no surprise that linear pattern music is not what Wild Cubs are about at all. Edging into almost techno territory, with their ever so slight pulsating beat and melodic cooing of the backing vocal, it’s the most chilled out opening to a song I’ve heard in quite some time.
‘Wild Light’; like much of the rest of the record, is an exercise in controlled insanity as the electro keys that provide it with its heart and soul work their magic around DeWitt’s Bowie/Delphic/Hot Chip vocal blend. ‘Summer Fires/Hidden Spells’ has a more driven synth giving it a slightly darker edge than the opening track. Although slightly darker, it still remains upbeat and pulsating and so the tempo and momentum of the album is not dropped or changed for the worse.
Putting down most of their computers and choosing instead to pick up actual instruments like a traditional drum kit and a guitar, ‘Jonti’ is the furthest away Wild Cub get from their signature sound. DeWitt’s vocal style changes to a more upbeat Johnny Cash vibe but even as quite a marked departure from other tracks on the record, it is Wild cub through and through.
‘Windows’ is the musical equivalent of transcending into a black hole. The dripping electronic synth comes across as slightly cacophonous when coupled with the drum beat which; for being out of time with the rest of the track, is why it feels like time is slowing down and spiralling out of control. It is far from being the strongest track on Youth.
Having only been creating music for just over one year, Wild Cub are moving in the right direction and Youth is less scatty or irrational as a lot of debut records these days end up being. Perseverance is key to any band wishing to succeed in the music industry and I have no doubt that if wild Cub can stick to their guns and not be swayed by a more mainstream sound, then they have the potential to be some of the biggest stars of the underground scene.
Wild Cub - Youth
Out of 10: 7/10
Written by - Rachael Scarsbrook
Follow / [FACEBOOK]
Listen / [SOUNDCLOUD]