• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Login/ Register
  • Editorial Team
  • Get Involved

Exeposé Online

Making the headlines since 1987

Exeposé Online
  • Home
  • News
      • Local
      • COVID-19
      • University News
  • Comment
  • Features
      • National
      • Worldwide
      • Politics
      • Interviews
  • Science
      • News
      • Lite Science
      • Common Misconceptions
      • Environment
      • Health
      • Technology
  • Sport
  • Lifestyle
      • Fashion and Beauty
      • Features
      • Food
      • Wellbeing
      • Sustainability
  • Music
      • Interviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Single Reviews
  • Screen
      • Reviews
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Festivals and Awards
  • Arts + Lit
      • Interviews
      • Features
      • Reviews
      • Creative Writing
  • Amplify
  • International
  • Multilingual
  • News
  • Comment
  • Features
  • Science
  • Sport
  • Lifestyle
  • Music
  • Screen
  • Arts + Lit
  • Amplify
  • International
  • Multilingual
Home / Music

Album Review: Nick Mulvey – Wake Up Now

He is back. The man from Portico Quartet. The guy who gave us ‘Fever to the Form’ and ‘Curcurucu’. It is the one and only Nick Mulvey. Three years it has been since his debut album, First Mind, was released, and since then not only did he tour for two years, but he had a child. They say with becoming a parent comes a new level of wisdom, and perhaps it could be argued that Wake Up Now speaks whole new levels of knowledge compared to his debut. Looking at themes such as inward reflection and outward realisation, this is an album that everyone needs to listen to. Even if it is just for the uplifting melodies.

The album opens with ‘Unconditional’, one of the four singles that precede the album, and if you haven’t heard it already then I ask you why? The song begins with a soft guitar, gently introucing the song’s themes of hopelessly falling in love and staying in love over time with one person. Maybe by choosing this song to begin with Nick wanted to highlight love being at the core of oneself? ‘Transform Your Game (We Remain)’ comes in next, culminating in a full six minutes of multiple layers, from interesting drum beats to lyrics about war and change.

Third on the album we have ‘Imogen’. Unbeknown to me, as I simply began to listen to the song, that it would make me cry. The song instantly contrasts the first two, with silkier tones, accompanying the personal lyrics beautifully. With opening lyrics “I always thought I knew where I came from, I always thought I know how but I was wrong” chimes with a feeling many of us come across when finding our own feet in the world. Additionally. the use of backing vocals alluding to many voices coming together emphasises the mutual questioning of ourselves and the world.

Unbeknown to me, as I simply began to listen to the song, that it would make me cry

Following this comes the double act ‘Myela’ and ‘We are Never Apart’; with ‘Myela”s focus on the refugee crisis in the EU and ‘We are Never Apart’s attention on fracking and the desecration of the highly spiritual Standing Rock. Both investigate global issues, and despite the contrast in atmospheres created by both, the first providing fuller and more vibrant tones, and the second slower and more delicate; allowing us to reflect on both topics, they undoubtedly come together beautifully. ‘Remembering’ is next, containing fun and vivid sounds, and words of “energy” and “remembering”, potentially suggesting not only looking at the world’s past but our own past to understand what it means to be who we are.

The guitar, one of Mulvey’s most familiar tools, is key in creating the feeling of movement and looking up in ‘Mountain to Move’. “This moment is a mountain to move, so move it inside” illustrates a message of self-realisation, really hitting home how we all can make our own change. ‘When the Body is Gone’ brings the tone down, beginning with a Spanish-sounding guitar melody and slow beat. The electronic ripples creating bubbles throughout the song makes it quite unique, bringing a beautiful, spiritual and almost mournful element to the album.

Lastly we have ‘Lullaby’, a one minute angelic version of ‘Unconditional’; which you want played in the background as you walk through a mystical forest, ‘In your Hands’ centering around a pensive piano melody, and finally; ‘Infinite Tress’. To end such an emotionally stimulating album you have to end on something breathtaking. The song beings with beautiful chimes and stunning guitar riffs. The opening lines genuinely gave me goose-bumps, with the gorgeous imagery of laying amongst some trees looking at the open sky with someone else (a friend? a lover? someone you like probably?!). Anyway, it leaves this perfect conclusion of looking inwards and outwards, to the future/skies/galaxies/infinity.

Personally, I would say this album blows his debut out of the water. Nick has built on his musical talent not only by a multiplicity of instruments and sounds, but a depth to each and every song which speaks volumes.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Sep 11, 2017 By Annie Tricks Filed Under: Music, Album Reviews Tagged With: music, album, guitar, singer songwriter, Second album, Nick Mulvey, Wake Up Now

Avatar

About Annie Tricks

Second year Drama student from Bristol who loves theatre, music, television, film and radio.

Primary Sidebar

exeposemusic

Keeping you up to date with Exeter's music.
Print Editors: @bry.kg & Richard Ainslie
Online Editors: @megfrost_ & @stephenenwei
music@exepose.com

Last week, on a crisp September morning in Idaho F Last week, on a crisp September morning in Idaho Falls, Idaho, TikTok user 420doggface208 put Fleetwood Mac back on the charts with nothing more than a phone, a longboard and a bottle of Ocean Spray Cran-Raspberry juice. That’s a baffling sentence let alone idea. But once you watch a viral video of a man cruising down a slip road, sipping on juice and lip syncing to Stevie Nicks, it makes perfect sense.

Check out the rest of Max Ingleby’s article on TikTok music online now!
Check out the review of hip-hop duo Run the Jewels Check out the review of hip-hop duo Run the Jewels’ latest record, by @_will.thornton_
@aaronloose reviews indie icon Phoebe Bridgers’ @aaronloose reviews indie icon Phoebe Bridgers’ sophomore album online now! Check it out!
Online Lifestyle Editor Elinor Jones reviews one o Online Lifestyle Editor Elinor Jones reviews one of Frank Turner’s Facebook live gigs and discusses the importance of musicians supporting small venues during the pandemic in a new article online now! 🎸
Print Music Editor @bridiehazelaa reviews Lady Gag Print Music Editor @bridiehazelaa reviews Lady Gaga’s latest album - check it out online now!
Have a read of the review of the BBC’s attempt a Have a read of the review of the BBC’s attempt at a zoom-radio festival by @xharry_ online now!
Check out the interview with @frankiejonesmusic no Check out the interview with @frankiejonesmusic now up online, by print music editor @bridiehazelaa 🤩🖤
@bry.kg has reviewed Fiona Apple’s new album, ta @bry.kg has reviewed Fiona Apple’s new album, take a look on our website and have a read🤩
Print Music Editor @bridiehazelaa interviews @_ech Print Music Editor @bridiehazelaa interviews @_echohotel_ in the next of the Up and Comers series, on our website now!
Load More… Follow on Instagram
Tweets by Exeposé Music

Contact Us: editors@exepose.com

Since 1987, Exeposé has given a voice to Exeter students. Over the years, the determination and political fervour exhibited by students through Exeposé have helped shape the University we study at today. We have received national recognition for our award-winning campaigns, investigations and surveys, and always strive to provide students with high-quality news, comment and features.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in articles and comments do not reflect the views of Exeposé Online or the University of Exeter Student's Guild.

        


© 2021
Website design: Harry Caton and Ellie Cook
Webdesign & development: Harry Caton