Wu-Lu – Loggerhead

The restless approach to instrumentation and vocal styles found across Wu-Lu's debut album are at once disparate but somehow coherent in its vision

Album Review by Tommy Pearson | 05 Jul 2022
  • Wu-Lu - Loggerhead
Album title: Loggerhead
Artist: Wu-Lu
Label: Warp Records
Release date: 8 Jul

Miles Romans-Hopcraft's debut album as Wu-Lu is an absolute nexus of influence. Loggerhead displays in abundance Romans-Hopcraft's growth as an artist and varied listening: the shifting of genres, the restless approach to instrumentation and the range in vocal styles leave the album at once disparate but somehow coherent in its vision.

The punk wailing found on South (feat. Lex Amor), the almost Beck-like Calo Paste (feat. Léa Sen), and the breaks in lead single Blame, that morph into a mumbling skramz, all blur the album into a dizzying monster of uncertainty. This uncertainty is especially expressed on Calo Paste which lyrically targets rent, instability, and low income, bookended with the looped refrain: 'I don’t wanna see your mental health go to waste'.

These swings, these shifts, at times feel as if there are 12 opening tracks for 12 albums here, which is both jarring as well as a phenomenal feat to pull off with any coherence. Pensive, resting beats provide a backdrop to the album's many experiments with it really popping in its quieter moments of lyrical reflection and confrontation. Loggerhead requires repeat listening to discover its true depth.

Listen to: Blame, Night Pill (feat. Asha)

http://wu-lu.bandcamp.com