Wildwood Kin arrive into folk fully formed and primed for the mainstream, their hair art-directed into waves or hidden under edgy beanies. An album as Seth Lakeman’s backing band and Radio 2 folk award nods means their legwork is clear, as does the way their voices mesh lushly together, reflecting a lifetime singing as a family (Emillie, sister Beth and cousin Meghann first publicly harmonised at primary school). Nevertheless, there’s something oleaginously focus-grouped about Turning Tides, as if someone added Haim and Mumford & Sons together in a marketing meeting, and exploded in dollar signs. Big production rules here: Run is radio-friendly harmony at Fleetwood Mac levels, while Taking a Hold and Warrior Daughter seem expertly sculpted for the more melancholy end credits of a Game of Thrones episode. The Valley is the sweetest song here, but it sounded better on their simpler, straighter 2015 EP, Salt of the Earth. That had soul. This is for the sales.
