Wolf Parade have always been a multifaceted group that tackles new sounds. Expo 86 is loud, muddy, and hypnotic. Whereas Apologies to the Queen Mary was raw and sporadic, At Mt. Zoomer clean and synth filled, Expo 86 doesn’t stray too far from a given path; it’s 55 minutes of blissful fuzz and distortion, and hands down the most rock-oriented Wolf Parade release to date.
One of the aspects that makes Wolf Parade one of the most interesting rock groups of the last decade is that the band is fronted by two strong personalties: Dan Boeckner (Guitar/Vocals) and Spencer Krug (Synth/Piano/Vocals). The duo trades off songs, and every album has an interesting display of various musical styles, as each member brings something different to the table. This unique dynamic has always made Wolf Parade’s albums have a duality to them. There is even a rivalry among fans, as to who writes the better songs: “Dan” or “Krug.” Dan; heavily guitar driven with a raspy voice; Krug; sporadic piano, synth with yelping vocals, each style quite distinctive from the other. Wolf Parade truly shines when a balance is reached. Expo 86, however, plays off more like a “Dan” album; more in the vein of his side project – Handsome Furs.
On the songs that Krug sings on, hints of his style can still be heard, but they are buried in the heavy guitar riffs and distortion. Even Krug’s synths on this album are muddy and bass-driven. Krug does a great job using his unique vocal style, even when paired against what is normally not his signature sound. Unlike past albums though, the songs don’t really have that distinct sound that each singer usually brings and the diversity is certainly missed.
One of the strongest elments about this album is the incredible guitar work that Dan brings. This undoubtedly is the heaviest the band has ever sounded in studio. Boeckner really drives every song with his heavy guitar playing. The excellent “What Did My Lover Say” has Krug and Dan very much in sync, with some guitar scraping that is reminiscent of Modest Mouse lining up effortlessly with Krug’s singing. “Pobody’s Nerfect” is an explosive track that really builds up into a crashing chorus of Dan singing, “And you just don’t know how to stop it at all.” The effect is this wall of sound as it comes to its epic conclusion; a payoff well worth waiting for. “Yulia” which might be the album’s clear stand-out track musically is a stomping anthem that really soars. It’s also the most radio friendly track, and something you can certainly see as being an epic crowd pleaser at their live shows. Again, the track seems as if it could be a leftover from the Handsome Furs project.
Expo 86 is rewarding with multiple listens; it’s very subtle, and in many ways it’s best enjoyed as an entire piece rather than individual tracks. The album can be very hypnotic, but it also risks blending too much together. The songs tend to bleed into each other, but it’s only due to stylistic choice in production they made. Wolf Parade makes up for this with consistency, great pacing, and enough diversity to have the album pick up anytime it seems like it could drag. While the coexistance of the band’s two frontmen now seems a little less balanced stylistically, the two still continue to work together in sync and create a distinct cohesive sound. While some of the diversity in sound has been lost, Expo 86 is hard driving rock album that never lets up.
