Wild World by Bastille - Review

Wild World by Bastille

Indie pop frontiers Bastille set to conquer arenas with an album that is both emotional and artistic in equal measure

Tracklist (The Complete Edition):

1. Good Grief

2. The Currents

3. An Act of Kindness

4. Warmth

5. Glory

6. Power

7. Two Evils

8. Send Them Off!

9. Lethargy

10. Four Walls (The Ballad of Perry Smith)

11. Blame

12. Fake It

13. Snakes

14. Winter of Our Youth

15. Way Beyond

16. Oil On Water

17. Campus

18. Shame

19. The Anchor

*****

"So, what would you little maniacs like to do first?" a quote to accompany the opening track of the sophomore Bastille album 'Wild World' It is incredibly cliche to describe an album in this modern day and age as "a journey" however, in this case, this album does just that, in a sublimely creative manner. Wild World is an emotional album ignited by up-tempo pop beats and the appearance of old film/TV quotes that foreshadow each song. Almost like mini movies told through modern day indie-pop music.

A vast majority of the 19 track long album is about reflecting on past events. 'The Anchor' is a song about reflecting on having someone as your support system. A story told so beautifully through a gradual drum beat which picks up towards the chorus, the song shows off a more vulnerable side to Bastille. 'Winter of our Youth' is about reflecting on your past as a whole. Pure emotion drenches through the lyric "When we pick over the past, we glorify it" portraying exactly how frontman Dan Smith pictures his past amongst his 4am "fearful" thoughts.

The topical song 'Four Walls' is based around Truman Capote's illusive character Perry Smith from his very real life 1966 novel In Cold Blood. Bastille and Capote's portrayals of Perry Smith are incredibly similar. Both artists draw on his innocent naivety and the controversial practice of capital punishment to create Perry Smith, a man who was simply with the wrong person at the wrong time.

Wild World is an album written to be emotional and sentimental, but registered to send Bastille to arenas...and beyond.