On the recording of Ultralife, Josephine Vander Gucht and Anthony West were juggling with the London transport system. Recording the new album themselves, the pair had to work around busses going past their studio at night which made the process a little tricky. The faint trickle of an emergency service can be heard at the start of Solo and showcases as one of the highlights on this album.
On the back of their previous album cycle, the band played 162 shows in 14 months and have become a strong favourite of people all around the world. The sweet vocal harmonies of Vander Gucht and West are present in the title track, which belts along at pace and could be heard as a summer festival singalong. Heart Strings is inspired by the likes of The Beatles and The Beach Boys, which can be heard in the musically-frenetic chorus.
Self-releasing their 2015 debut album, Ultralife is a big step forward for Oh Wonder. This album is for the conservative listener that delves into the album journey. If you’re looking for one or two tracks, head for Slip Away and High On Humans.
