It has been long five years between solo releases but Alex Lloyd is back again. Written over six years, Urban Wilderness is a well-seasoned, eclectic mix of infectious pop with ample twists to keep it from being bound by definitive genre. Experimenting with elements of comprehensive folk, gritty blues and vintage soul concepts, all complemented by Lloyd’s pop core foundations, the combination perfectly depicting a metropolitan landscape, capturing the bustling, unpredictable nature of city-dwelling.
From opening track, ‘Black Cat’, the eclectic concoctions begin to expose, unfurling a 1960s inspired intro, met nicely with Lloyd’s distorted, robot-esque vocal, before launching into some fore-fronted gleaming rock. ‘Waterfall’ and ‘Bring It On’ turns the variation notch a little more toward the pop side of things, yet still maintaining a memorable soulful kick.
The closest the album gets to any of Lloyd’s previous work lingers within ‘Wait To Long’ with its gentle piano balladry… while ‘One Trick Pony’ gives off lucid hints of a reggae groove.
Channeling a late 1960’s feel and proving the catchiest thing since the plague is ‘Better The Less You Know’, acting as the infectiously inescapable lead single to the album… a wise choice with its “dang-ding-a-dong-dang-ding-a-dong-dang-a-ding-dong” melody, ensuring this one will permanently embed itself into your mind.
Urban Wilderness proves an intrepid, expertly produced, aptly-titled release; departing Alex Lloyd from any specific genre definition in a valedictory manner. Entailing his past five years of living abroad in the UK and sculpting the change of scenery in which has evidently coloured his work, allowing him to flourish in what can only be described as the most prominent Alex Lloyd I have experienced to date; full of infectious intent and heartwarming fervor.
8.5/10
Reviewer: Chloe Webb