Alex Wellkers
Alex Wellkers has hit his creative stride with the new album famous now. He’s moving forward with a musical vision that, in the hands of lesser performers and composers, would sound like an ineffectual hodgepodge of styles and, instead, seems poised for far larger glories than indie praise and success. He’s had his share of the latter. Switzerland-born, you’ll hear a strong European flavor in Wellkers’ music if you know what that sounds like, but it doesn’t stop him from crafting a truly global release capable of earning a worldwide audience.
The songs make it clear that is what he is aiming for. It isn’t the only thing, however, in his sights. Wellkers is doing this for himself, above all else, and some of the songs such as the first track “Get This Far” is an obvious cathartic experience for the singer. It doesn’t mean that listeners will feel as if they’ve stumbled in on some sort of musical therapy session. He does an exceptional job of connecting this song to wider concerns than his own personal minutia.
The sense of catharsis is no less strong in the second track “What Keeps Me Alive”. This is a rumbling guitar-driven piece punctuated by intermittent swaths of slashing distorted guitar and the rhythm will compel many to stick around. There’s a feeling of unpredictability emanating from these songs, even the “simpler” ones such as this, a sense that Wellkers may spring the unexpected at any moment.
“We See It All Coming Down” pushes past the cathartic realm, however, into a far broader statement. The “we” in the song title is important as Wellkers identifies with listeners while still maintaining his own fiery vision. Few of the album’s other songs scale this track’s dramatic heights and there’s a heavy lean towards the progressive at key points in the arrangement. The peaks keep rising with the next track “Believe in What You Do Here”. Where to start? You can’t argue with the title’s sentiment and the song lyrics expand on that without ever sounding preachy.
Much of the track’s success can be attributed to the feeling that this isn’t any sort of sermonizing but, instead, a hard-won lesson for the singer.
“Satisfied” alternates between two different approaches for much of the tune before finally dispensing with the niceties. It’s one of the more emotional rockers on the album, but that’s always tempered with the guiding intelligence you can hear steering every second of this release. “I See You Give In” is the sound of a musician who will never give in, that’s for sure. It’s one of the most passionate tracks on the album and the go for broke ferocity you’ll hear from the guitar, in particular, may leave some a little breathless.
That’s fine. Alex Wellkers is looking to impress you. He’s also looking for you to listen closely too as famous now lays his heart bare for us. It is a fantastic ride all of the way through and does not disappoint.
Zachary Bissonnette
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