Bedford-based UK producer Night Wolf and Norfolk vocalist Lois Powell met at an open mic night and have been building something quietly special ever since. “The Laws Of Life,” released March 21st, is their fourth collaboration, and Night Wolf has been prolific enough outside of this partnership to have nine albums out in the world, sync placements spanning Netflix, Channel 4, Sky, NFL, and MLB, and a freshly launched independent label, EscaVolt Records. Powell, meanwhile, has been championed by BBC Introducing for what they describe as the delicacy and truth of her voice. The song was written like going back in time to give yourself advice – reflective, reassuring, and quietly purposeful.
I love the harp-like pizzicato strings here – it’s used very tastefully to add this elegance and subtle rhythm to the song, and contrasts really well with the dreamy and aching vocals. This song feels like it can go really well with some interpretive dancing with a lot of flowing movements. At least that’s the imagery being conjured in my head as I listen to the song for the 9th time in a row. That’s how entrancing and addictive it is – but not in a catchy way, in a spell/ritual way, like I can’t help but listen to it.
The harder beat that crashes in at the close is a Night Wolf signature in their work together, and it works as a jolt of something unsettling against everything that came before it – the calm doesn’t exactly break, but it shifts. Four songs in, Powell and Night Wolf have something that feels like its own distinct world. More is apparently in the works, and based on this, that’s good news.