The Clearing: Wolf Alice’s Triumphant Return to Rock Magic
The Clearing album cover, by Rachel Fleminger Hudson
Music has always inspired both praise and criticism. For the optimists, there’s excitement in discovering underground tracks, rising artists, and fresh sounds that scratch a specific itch in the brain. On the other hand, some listeners feel starved – frustrated that their favorite artists have gone quiet and are unable to find music that truly defines their current season.
If you find yourself in that latter camp, it might be time to shift your perspective. Imagine the music scene as a sprawling fantasy map; you may feel lost in the misty mountains, but there’s a full-blown party happening in the Shire.
In other words, if you’ve been waiting on Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter (guilty), or you’re simply craving something fresh for your playlists, we’ve got just the artist for you. And the best part? Their new album has just dropped.
Meet Wolf Alice, one of England’s most electrifying four-piece rock bands, back with a bag of magic beans in the form of their latest release, The Clearing.
Formed over a decade ago, Wolf Alice began with frontwoman Ellie Rowsell, who knew she had the talent but lacked the confidence to perform solo. With her dad’s help, she scoured online music forums in search of a collaborator. That’s when she connected with guitarist Joff Oddie, and the two quickly hit the ground running, later joined by Theo Ellis and Joel Amey to complete the band.
Together, they went on to release a string of radio hits, including “Don’t Delete the Kisses,” and even snagged a 2016 Grammy nomination for their track “Moaning Lisa Smile.”
However, after the release of their 2021 album Blue Weekend, the group stepped back for a four-year hiatus to refine their creative process, experiment with new sounds, and even make a label shift from Dirty Hit to Sony’s Columbia imprint.
They certainly kept themselves busy during this little break, working behind the scenes to ensure their return would make an impact, and that is exactly what they did with their first single of 2025, “Bloom Baby Bloom.” Vibrant, cheeky, and infectious, the track shook the ground and gave fans a glimpse of what may lie ahead.
In the months that followed, Wolf Alice kept the momentum alive, teasing a brand new album, announcing a string of intimate live shows, and dropping a few more tracks to keep anticipation simmering.
On August 22nd, the long-awaited album finally arrived for the world to savor. Tracks like “Play It Out” and “Midnight Song” lean steady and introspective, perfect for the cozy fall season ahead, while songs like “White Horses” will have you testing the limits of your car speakers.
It’s a true no-skips album, and the sky feels like the limit for a band that clearly has stamina to spare.
As for the future of Wolf Alice, we can’t wait to see where they go next. And honestly, if no one shows up this Halloween dressed in one of Ellie Rowsell’s iconic retro fits, then as a society, we have dropped the ball.
