7/10

Alexander Wolfe has returned with fifth full-length, 'Little Death'. As a prolific writer for film and screen (he recently wrote a song for BAFTA award winning 'Beast', Wolfe uses his artistic strength in an inherently cinematic way. With this in mind, the new record sounds somewhat unsurprisingly huge. On tracks like 'Avalanche' and 'Your Love Is A Wheel', copious vocal layers add an interesting level of texture to instrumentals that thrive on alternative-singer-songwriter tropes of heavy percussion and scorching riffs.

However, fourth track 'Oslo' initiates a welcome change in sentiment which is maintained throughout the following seven songs. 'Catherine' builds on this detour with production that is stripped down to little more than one piano, one guitar and one vocal (and is incredibly affecting in doing so). Whilst closing tracks 'Alive' and 'I've Already Lost What I Never Had' show an optimum middle ground between the album's two stylistic extremes by including subtle electronic features, Wolfe's compelling vocals and lyrics are given their deserved space at the forefront.

The sonic palette of 'Little Death' doesn't prioritise experimentation, but it is truly a testament to Wolfe that the integrity of his writing succeeds in avoiding pastiche within a genre that has often been accused of growing tired.