Wild Nothing - Hold (Sea Blue in Coke Bottle Clear Vinyl)

Wild Nothing - Hold (Sea Blue in Coke Bottle Clear Vinyl)

Because Hold, Jack Tatum’s fifth album under the moniker Wild Nothing, was written in the aftermath of new parenthood during the pandemic, it was probably inevitable that it would be searching and existential music. But during the recording process, the artist known for synth-pop tastefulness used it as an opportunity to reach for a new sonic maximalism and wider set of influences. With contributions from longtime collaborator Jorge Elbrecht, Tommy Davidson of Beach Fossils and Hatchie’s Harriette Pilbeam, first single “Headlights On” features an acid house-worthy bass groove and breakbeat that prove Tatum is playing for the rafters.

Tatum produced the rest of the record on his own, partially out of necessity, due to the challenges of the pandemic. The songs were eventually brought to Adrian Olsen at Montrose Recording in Richmond to begin recording drums and filling in the gaps. While largely a product of isolation, Hold also reflects the things Tatum has learned from collaborators, both on previous records and during his acclaimed work with Japanese Breakfast and Molly Burch. The rest of the record was mixed by Geoff Swan, who listeners might know for his work with Caroline Polachek and Charli XCX. Swan put Tatum’s vocals high in the mix, and throughout the album, he embraces playful vocal processing like never before.

Tracklisting

1. Headlights On (feat. Hatchie)

2. Basement El Dorado

3. The Bodybuilder
    
4. Suburban Solutions
    
5. Presidio
    
6. Dial Tone
    
7. Histrion
    
8. Prima
    
9. Alex
    
10. Little Chaos
    
11. Pulling Down the Moon (Before You)