Ultralife

Working in unison, the London duo known as Oh Wonder is comprised of the singing and songwriting team of Anthony West and Josephine Vader Gucht. The couple set about to craft the unique creative challenge of releasing a new song every month for a year which led to their 2015 debut offering. On "Ultralife" the pair takes things to the next level pushing their own melodies on some truly unique pop-synth sounds.

The songwriters credit their recent exposure to life on the road with the all-new tracks on "Ultralife." The title track itself is a very groovy pop-friendly uptempo offering that has its spirit, with the vocalist running their signature melodies through various ups and downs, to deliver a truly joyful and uplifting experience. Inspired by R&B slow jams and Euro-feeling electro-pop, Oh Wonder stays true to what works for them.

"Heavy" is another stand-out on the 12-track setlist. The composition has a very nostalgic feel to it and easily inspires an 80s sensation; the keyboard breakdown is also a wonderful touch. There are some truly beautifully delicate ballads on "Ultralife" as well that have a deliciously ethereal quality. Through no fault of your own, the listener will get lost in the repetitive percussion of "Slip Away" that is meditatively seductive.

The arrangements on "Ultralife" aren't exuberantly complicated, and you can imagine how exotic and intoxicating Oh Wonder must sound when performing these songs live. That's a rarity among electro-pop artists nowadays who must rely heavily on autotune and other technologies to make sound engaging to a live audience. The pair has done themselves a great service by not making their productions too heavy or convoluted. "Ultralife" is a well produced alternative album.

Oh Wonder appears on the cusp of a significant mainstream crossover, but in the meantime, "Ultralife" will sustain their popularity and give poetic rise to their stardom especially on the hypnotic potential of tracks like "Waste." They still have a lot to prove, but the potential for igniting our interest is there, and "Ultralife" is proof of that; this isn't a tour de force, but it's an engaging introduction to an alternative sound that is full of wonder.

"Ultralife" by Oh Wonder
available on CD and Digital Download
$7.99
? 2017 Island Records