You could dismiss these on-the-up young Londoners as mere 90s fancy dressers, influences sewn clearly to their metaphorical plaid shirts. But every era borrows, and even in one when you can catch the real Breeders, Smashing Pumpkins and Veruca Salt on the reunion circuit, Wolf Alice still offer something more: the dizzy headrush of the first time. Your Love’s Whore and Giant Peach update the dynamic, build-and-release fun of the best post-grunge crossover bands, and in Ellie Rowsell, they’ve a firecracker frontwoman whose lyrics capture the strange sadness of growing up. Weaker momentssuch as early single Fluffy or drummer Joel Amey’s drippy vocal on Swallowtail can’t mar a debut giddy with vim and future potential.
