House of Wolves
Fold in the Wind
In one word, House of Wolves’ debut full-length can be described as “poignant.” But it’s not the only descriptor that can sum up this album. The overall sound of Rey Villalobos’s solo project is rare because of his ability to convey the same sentiment through his words, his voice, and his musical accompaniment. And the consistency of the message is wonderfully hypnotizing. The muted piano pounds and tinny guitars stumble through songs alongside the moans of brass horns. Meanwhile, Villalobos’s voice echoes through his music, feeling light and breathy despite the weight of the emotions—from distress to passion—he conveys. By the first song, “50’s,” Villalobos has discovered and confessed “It’s the bitter side of life that I like,” setting the tone for Fold in the Wind as a whole. The tracks that follow carry this message along with swoops of melody that linger in your mind long after the music lulls to a stop.
