Glorious Wolf is a project by the Dutch composer and guitarist Ruud Dielen. He plays various instruments, guitars, saz, bass, percussions, synth-guitar as well as singing. His eclectic style shows influences from artists like Frank Zappa, Weather Report, focusing mainly on composition, compared to works with the more experimental and improvised “Perpetual Beta” quotes. In 2017 he published “Aquarius”, entirely instrumental, and on November 15, 2019 he released “Zodiac”, with singed tracks. Composed of seven tracks + 2 bonus tracks, it is available in CD and digital, produced by wolf music. The album opens with “Constellations”, characterized by a dark intro in space style, inspired by a stellar theme. The track takes shape with a Floydian guitar, and enters the vocal. Synth and the bass create a cosmic background with repeated sounds, the guitar elaborates a more electric solo, the sax that embellishes the sound. Slightly increase the intensity, after another guitar insert and closes with the return of the vocal. The second “Close to the new world” is softer, with a slow rhythm and the melodic voice at times stratified. A sudden tempo change, accelerates and exacerbates tones with the entry of distortion and synths. Aggressive moments alternate with softer contracts, pleasant instrumental parts, more decisive than that sung. A good guitar solo, before the return of the vocal and after the last one closes in calando. “Zodiac” is the title-track, which starts again with a slow and articulated intro with layered voices and keyboards. The structure is more elaborate, at times almost experimental, better the instrumental parts of that sung. Rhythms and melodies are more intricate and in some places not very fluid, but a good idea. A pleasant acoustic guitar solo opens “Poets”, on which Frans Verounden’s vocal is inserted. An acoustic passage in which percussive traits and layers of acoustic guitar are inserted. “Feelin Blue” begins with a symphonic carpet of mellotron, which turns into a blues-rock atmosphere. The guitar draws this melody on a slow rhythm on the symphony created by the keyboards, so a little incisive vocal enters. In the middle of the song a good idea of an electric guitar with the hammond as a support, before the return of the vocal. A little too long the piece, in which, except for the central solo, little or nothing happens, remaining too tied to the central scheme. “For you & I” is an instrumental track that begins with a nice guitar intro. Good ideas, and the melodies created, the electric guitar guides the sound and takes the situation well in hand. Keyboards come into play also enrich the track and create interesting textures. One of the best moments of the album with these good phrases between the two instruments. “The game” starts with the synth, a change slows down and the background is created for the vocal input, more spoken than sung. The track develops with the voice that distracts attention to the music, the album closes with this song. The following two tracks are two valid instrumental “Questioni” and “Aquarius”, already present in the previous album. An album with many ideas to start with, above all in the instrumental parts, which are however, suffocated by the vocal not always up to par. It’s still a good album, and the musical part shows good structures. Even the ideas are varied and incorporate different appreciable stylistic influences. I hope this review will not be interpreted in a negative way, in fact, the album after a careful listening shows its positive aspects, which should be released to express themselves fully.
Tracklist
1. Constellations (11:08)
2. Close to the New World (7:49)
3. Zodiac (7:19)
4. Poëts (4:46)
5. Feelin’ Blue (8:41)
6. For You and I (6:37)
7. The Game (6:15)
Bonus Tracks:
8. Questions (6:03)
9. Aquarius (5:35)
Lineup
Ruud Dielen / Guitars, Bass, Synthesizers, Programming, Composer, Performer and Producer
With:
Oscar Anema / Vocals, Lyrics
Frans Verouden / Vocals
Ab Boot / Fretless Bass
André van de Ven / Sax
Glorious Wolf |Official Website|Bandcamp|Facebook Page|YouTube Channel|
