While 2020 has set barriers for all many artists, Ulysses Wells has used this time to his advantage for his debut EP, Can’t Take It Much Longer…
Released on Du Monde Records, Can’t Take It Much Longer contains four songs filled with alternative rock expected by Ulysses Wells fans but this EP also takes an unexpected turn towards a folk-fusion style yet to be heard from the artist.
Owning his first acoustic guitar at five the Wells became quickly obsessed and was gifted his electric guitar at the age of 13 which comes as no surprise when listening to the electric sounds drifting through this EP.
Can’t Take It Much Longer contains four tracks and has an obvious divide between the halves. Wells decided to do this to: “show a side that people hadn’t seen, to flip the switch.” The two different sides of the EP create a variety of style beneficial to any artist as it can create a larger number of listeners attracted to the different genres not dissimilar to artists like Frank Turner who have a variety of heavier and softer music throughout his albums.
Wells described his new EP as the devil and angel. The devil side containing the track Fooled which starts with an electric bass guitar making itself known and leading the listener through the track but is then is hit by a spine-tingling guitar solo blasting through the speakers made to make anyone stop in their tracks.
But this is contrasted drastically with the title track which features on the side of the angel. With strong folk influences, it tells a story which is one of the reasons it was Wells‘ favourite song to write and produce on the EP as “its really different, its tells a story and took progress to make interesting as it only contains three chords.” He continued to say that it’s beneficial for listeners to stick with the song as it takes you on a journey.
While there may be obvious influences to the EP including Leonard Cohen, the Oxfordshire born spoke of the use of the accordion is a tribute to his grandfather who frequently played the instrument.
Signing for a record company and producing an EP in a pandemic comes with its struggles and even though he described the time as being “dead in the water creatively” it meant he could focus solely on the production of this EP sewing together pre-recorded samples and having a bass player on hand to help record more.
A headline tour was on the cards for Wells in 2021 that has now been cancelled – which comes as no surprise – but even though live music has come to a halt the singer-songwriter is already planning to start on his second EP with Du Monde Records.
The variety and originality flowing through his EP is sure to attract many on its release. With the electronic affects complimenting the grittiness of his vocals he has created a sound filled with comfort and familiarity for his genre of music but integrates the other styles less expected creating his own flare needed to try and conquer the music industry.
Rating: 7/10
By Amber Malley
Feature Image Credit: Chuffmedia