What's Between
| What's Between | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 9 June 2014 | |||
| Length | 37:42 | |||
| Label | Tri Angle | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Wife chronology | ||||
| ||||
What's Between is the debut studio album by Irish singer-songwriter James Kelly under the pseudonym Wife.[1] It was released on 9 June 2014 through Tri Angle.[2] It received generally favorable reviews from critics.[3]
Background
[edit]In 2012, James Kelly released his debut solo EP, titled Stoic, under the pseudonym Wife.[4] The breakup of his band Altar of Plagues was announced in 2013.[4] What's Between is his debut solo studio album.[5] It is produced with the Haxan Cloak, Lie, and Roly Porter.[6] The album's title refers to "the emotional and physical space between two people."[7] A music video was released for "Heart Is a Far Light".[8][9]
Critical reception
[edit]| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 74/100[3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [10] |
| Exclaim! | 8/10[11] |
| Fact | [12] |
| NME | 8/10[13] |
| Pitchfork | 6.0/10[14] |
| Resident Advisor | 3.5/5[15] |
| The Skinny | [16] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, What's Between received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 74 out of 100 from 7 critic scores.[3]
Bram E. Gieben of The Skinny commented that "there is a majestic sweep, a widescreen, cinematic ambition to James Kelly's songwriting that reaches for the melodramatic narrative touch of early Nine Inch Nails, or the abstract torch songs of Japan."[16] He added, "Kelly is drawing on ancient choral traditions, deconstructed forms of electronic music spanning decades, but the songs are never difficult or over-cooked."[16] Paul Clarke of Resident Advisor stated, "what's most surprising about What's Between is that a man mired in both metal and experimental electronic music has created melodies and choruses you could almost sing along to."[15] Heather Phares of AllMusic called What's Between "a complex, often beautiful debut album that affords Kelly even more expression and possibilities than what he's done before."[10] Colin Joyce of Pitchfork stated, "What's Between provides some compelling glimpses at Kelly's cimmerian headspace, but knowing that he possesses the ability and the vision to flesh out his own ideas, it's hard not to be left wanting more."[14]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by James Kelly.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Like Chrome" | 2:23 |
| 2. | "Tongue" | 5:24 |
| 3. | "Heart Is a Far Light" | 4:58 |
| 4. | "Salvage" | 2:46 |
| 5. | "Dans Ce" | 7:23 |
| 6. | "A Nature (Shards)" | 3:30 |
| 7. | "Living Joy" | 3:27 |
| 8. | "Fruit Tree" | 4:05 |
| 9. | "Further Not Better" | 3:46 |
| Total length: | 37:42 | |
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from liner notes.[17]
- Wife – vocals, production, mixing
- The Haxan Cloak – production, mixing
- Ana Roman – vocals (1)
- Lie – production (1–5, 7–9)
- Nahtan Jones – vocals (2, 6, 8)
- Roly Porter – additional production (5, 8, 9)
- Matt Lord – additional mixing
- Matt Colton – mastering
- Dr.Me – design
- Maykel Lima – photography
References
[edit]- ^ Phares, Heather. "WIFE". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ Milton, Jamie (10 April 2014). "Listen: WIFE Previews Debut Album With 'Heart Is A Far Light'". DIY. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ a b c "What's Between by WIFE". Metacritic. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ a b Kokiousis, Chris (9 September 2014). "WIFE announces world tour supporting Tri Angle debut What's Between, makes metalheads uncomfortable". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ "WIFE unveils debut album What's Between for Tri Angle". Fact. 10 April 2014. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ Saxelby, Ruth (10 April 2014). "Stream: WIFE, "Heart is a Far Light"". The Fader. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
- ^ Adams, Gregory (10 April 2014). "Altar of Plagues' James Kelly Announces Solo Debut as WIFE". Exclaim!. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ Hughes, Josiah (4 July 2014). "WIFE "Heart Is a Far Light" (video)". Exclaim!. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
- ^ Cliff, Aimee (6 July 2014). "Let WIFE's New Video Get Under Your Skin". The Fader. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
- ^ a b Phares, Heather. "What's Between - WIFE". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ Rancic, Michael (6 June 2014). "WIFE - What's Between". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 12 June 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ Cliff, Aimee (10 June 2014). "What's Between". Fact. Archived from the original on 18 June 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ Huggett, Stuart (9 June 2014). "Wife - 'What's Between'". NME. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ a b Joyce, Colin (11 June 2014). "WIFE: What's Between". Pitchfork. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ a b Clarke, Paul (20 July 2014). "WIFE - What's Between". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 27 January 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Gieben, Bram E. (15 May 2014). "WIFE – What's Between". The Skinny. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ Wife (2014). What's Between (CD booklet). Tri Angle.
Further reading
[edit]- Bermingham, Finbarr (5 March 2015). "Trouble and Strife: WIFE interviewed". The Skinny.
- Milton, Jamie (9 June 2014). "Track By Track: WIFE - What's Between". DIY.
- Pessaro, Fred (28 May 2014). "The End of Plagues and Going Pop: An Interview with WIFE's James Kelly". Vice.
- Saxelby, Ruth (6 June 2014). "Tri Angle Artist WIFE on His Sensual Debut Album: "I'm not afraid to tell someone I'm vulnerable."". The Fader.
External links
[edit]- What's Between at Discogs (list of releases)