Patrick Wolf

The Bachelor (NYLON)

By Emily Becker
Published: August 8th, 2009 | 7:00am

It’s hard to listen to Patrick Wolf without thinking about high school drama clubs everywhere. Like the two faces of Janus, which so famously signify comedy and tragedy, Wolf’s musical pendulums swing from high to low, pausing at only at the emotional extremes. Wolf originally planned a two-act journey from despair to contentment called Battle as his follow-up to 2007's The Magic Position (Polydor), but eventually opted to release each half separately. Part one, The Bachelor, represents the tragic mask, while its more comic complement, The Conquerer, will be released in 2010.

The Bachelor focuses on Wolf’s trials and tribulations, so it’s not surprising that no track is as accessible as “The Magic Position.” It’s not the tone of the record that bogs Wolf down, but rather that his songs suffer when he relies solely on his vocals to carry them. On songs like, “Oblivion” and “Who Will,” he sounds histrionic, even grating. It’s ultimately Wolf’s broad, innovative instrumentation that saves The Bachelor. High points include the title track, whose fiddle line stomps and whoops, the scorching guitar of “Battle, ” and the whispery, dance-friendly vibe of first single “The Vulture.” The blend of spoken-word samples and electronica effectively counter the otherwise dogged determinism of “Hard Times.”

Not unlike a deep-fried Snickers bar, Wolf’s music is best enjoyed in small, infrequent doses, yet there will always be devotees for whom Wolf’s music is just short of ambrosia. Wolf is a polarizing figure whose newest record captures his blue period, but The Bachelor's trip through the emotional netherworld just makes the optimistic promise of The Conqueror that much more enticing.

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