''Ultralife'' is the second album by alt-pop duo
Oh Wonder
Oh Wonder are an English, London-based alt-pop duo consisting of Anthony Vander West (né West) and Josephine Vander West (née Vander Gucht). Since releasing their debut album, they have seen international success with their alt-pop singles. O ...
, released on 14 July 2017.
Background
Anthony West and Josephine Vander Gucht of Oh Wonder began the writing process with a month in an
Airbnb
Airbnb, Inc. ( ), based in San Francisco, California, operates an online marketplace focused on short-term homestays and experiences. The company acts as a broker and charges a commission from each booking. The company was founded in 2008 b ...
in
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
,
New York in April 2016. Later in the year, they returned to their hometown of London after a year of touring the world, and wrote the second half of the record. The twelve songs were recorded over a 10-day period at The Pool Studio,
Bermondsey
Bermondsey () is a district in southeast London, part of the London Borough of Southwark, England, southeast of Charing Cross. To the west of Bermondsey lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe and Deptford, to the south Walworth and Peckham ...
in December 2016 and finished at their home studio at the start of 2017. The duo wrote, recorded, produced and mixed the record themselves. The first single "Ultralife" was released on 31 March 2017 and hailed by the ''NME'' as "bright-eyed" and "dazzling".
Critical reception
''Ultralife'' received positive reviews from critics. Larisha Paul of Baeble Music called the album an "ethereal adventure" that showcases the duo's "masterful songwriting abilities".
In contrast, AllMusic's Marcy Donelson said that, compared to their 2015 debut album, "intimacy definitely takes a hit with ''Ultralifes expanded production".
Track listing
Charts
References
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2017 albums
Oh Wonder albums
Island Records albums
Republic Records albums