The self-titled debut album from Wednesday Walkers is an immersive success, being a full display of the gripping songwriting from duo Andrea Crusco and David Loris. The self-produced release, recorded primarily in Barcelona and Amsterdam, encompasses a range of ethereal folk and hooky rock alike. “Our songs speak of everyday struggles we all experience, but also of resilience and finding meaning in simple things,” they explain.
“Love Is Real” opens the album with calming introspection, as the sound of water washing ashore complements trickling acoustics and solemn vocals — admitting “I don’t know if we can take this anymore.” The caressing instrumentation continues to emerge with gradual precision, into a refreshing mid-point with twang airiness and an ensuing “at the beach,” setting. Contemplations on the shortness of life, and the power of love, are conveyed beautifully on this memorable opener, concluding with a poignant swipe at AI interweaving into daily lives.
Jangling guitars and clap-laden percussion adorn the subsequent “Ordinary Day,” another showcase in quality songwriting. “We came home, but everything had changed,” the vocals lament amidst starry-eyed instrumentation, sighing “it’s an ordinary day,” with shades of ’90s alternative nostalgia in the blissful chorus. Wednesday Walkers opens with a strong one-two punch that emphasizes the band’s tonal reaches, from folk-tinged subduedness into effervescent, hooky allure.
A dream-pop dazzling shows on “What a Waste,” speaking to the strive to break free from childhood memories alongside lush wordless backing croons and glistening guitar work. Meanwhile, the subsequent “101” enamors in its laid-back folk aesthetic, begging not to “bring me down, I got that covered,” into a haunting vocal drive past the one-minute turn. A heart-on-sleeve lyrical disposition enthralls within a structural unfolding from acoustic-friendly haziness into twinkling keys and a guitar-friendly hook, as the “strike a pose,” sequence hits. Wednesday Walkers consistently impress with song structures ripe with climactic engagement.
The album’s second half proves equally magnetic, from the haunting folk “you’re all I need,” outpouring within “Magic Cloud” to the majestic, harmonious spaciousness of “The Sea Song,” where wordless vocal harmonies captivate. “The Universe” is an especially impactful finale. “I’ve been running all this time from who I could become,” the vocals let out, comparing oneself to a satellite falling back down to earth in repeating “you’re the universe,” with spine-tingling results. Further gorgeous vocal harmonies aid the mystique of intertwining electric guitars and acoustics, concluding this fantastic album with an especially strong emotiveness.
