WIFE – WHAT’S BETWEEN

To many, What’s Between will be viewed simply as the debut solo album by Irish singer songwriter James Kelly, aka WIFE, but to fans of the critically acclaimed metal band, Altar of Plagues, this album marks the return of a much admired talent. As front man in Altar of Plagues, James Kelly was lauded as being partly responsible for creating some of the most innovative music to emerge out of the metal scene in recent years. After the release of their third album, which many viewed as a creative high point, they surprised everyone and disbanded soon afterwards. This decision was partially due to Kelly feeling the band had gone as far as they could, but also because of a burning desire he’d developed to make a very different kind of record leading to the creation of WIFE. What’s Between is a disorientating and splintered pop record that finds light and dark at constant odds with one another, industrial tones and throbbing techno beats clashing with elegiac pastoral atmospherics. Even on seemingly lighter moments the lyrics often betray their sunnier surroundings. Produced with The Haxan Cloak, who released Excavation, one of last years most acclaimed and extreme electronic albums, lie, and cult hero Roly Porter, What’s Between is a highly ambitious solo debut by an artist boldly navigating outside of their comfort zone.