Patrick Wolf
The Magic Position

THE REVIEW

Here comes Patrizio the mischievous, who after an album of melancholic and late romantic atmospheres, ruins his dark and handsome reputation by inserting a triptych of solar pop cubed. More than that: glorious, triumphant. Yet how can one not smile while listening not to "Ouverture" (which is quite nice) but certainly to "The Magic Position" not to mention the delightfully fun single "Accident & Emergency" which, if we were in the eighties, would be the DJ television's dancefloor filler.

And then Patrizio is generous, he has something for everyone in his new album: he returns to the romantic and maudit darkness in "Augustine", gives away a successful electric ballad with "Bluebells", improvises as a classic chanson artist in the nearly concluding "Enchanted", enjoys playing Robert Smith (the cheerful one) in "Get Lost", self-pays homage by recapturing those offbeat and elementary electronics that made the fortune of Lycantropy ("The stars"). What strikes the most is the energy, the enthusiasm that good Patrizio puts into everything he offers, and yes, in short, it's difficult to resist such a (not trivially) positive attitude towards the world. He sets off and tries to seize things with the heedless exuberance (and maybe the arrogance) of blessed youth: success (why not?), a melody, a passion.

And so: the album of consecration, maturity, a milestone? Well, not yet, but it is an album that surely confirms Patrick's talent and perhaps allows him to take a step forward. Beyond the analysis, it is an album with a beautiful lineup, it puts you in a good mood, it sounds good. In short, with his new look as a desperate rogue, he is heading towards world domination. Or not? Eh no, I guess not. It's still a Paris Hilton's world.