Minnie Wilde — Cradle — EP Review
Alternative | Pop | Singer/Songwriter
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music
One thing’s for certain, July has been one of the best months of the year so far when it comes to the sheer amount of great EPs we’ve received. And with the month beginning to come to a close, it had one more awesome short project up its sleeve. That project is none other than the debut EP of Brighton-based rising star Minnie Wilde, titled Cradle.
Minnie was recommended to me personally at the very beginning of 2021, this was around the time she had arrived with her debut single release “Adored”. From the very get-go, Minnie Wilde instantly presented a significant amount of artistry; more so than a lot of other upcoming pop artists anyway. To make a comparison, there were clear influences of Kate Bush in both her expressive vocal style and dreamy production. Pun intended I adored this track.
Following on from this single, we were treated to a few more singles from Wilde. Titled “Bubblegum” and “Sugar Mummy” respectively, the spa e between these two releases was quite widespread. With the slower, sombre sound of “Bubblegum” being presented to us a month or two after “Adored”, the more bright and upbeat sound of “Sugar Mummy” was put out about a week before the release of Minnie’s debut EP.
Oddly enough, however, neither of the aforementioned songs made it onto Cradle, with the EP instead placing “Adored” alongside 5 newly released tunes. As I’ll go into more detail later, the EP still stands as a remarkable short project, but I wanted to express my love towards the two tracks that missed out on a spot in the EP’s line-up as well.
One thing’s for sure though, the EP, as it stands, remains incredibly consistent in its atmosphere. Evert track on Cradle has a slow-burning, hazy, and highly dreamy feel.
The opening track, titled “Limbo (Home Run Darling)”, really has that progressive and enigmatic quality, that really sucked me into the musical world that this EP creates.
Following this is one atmospheric track after another. And when paired with Minnie’s amazing vocal range, the whole experience not only presented a match made in heaven but also had me riding along effortlessly with every intricate melody.
Furthermore, Cradle succeeds in really establishing a strong aesthetic, reflective of Minnie Wilde. As a listener, I can almost predict where this artist can potentially go next in a stylistic sense. And by the looks of it, the future is looking phenomenally bright for Wilde.
The thing that especially surprised me with this EP, is the kind of iconic value that a selection of the tracks represents. It feels all-too-easy to see the tunes on Cradle as something that a wider audience can recognise and enjoy. But the fact that this is coming from an artist who has just arrived with her debut EP, that fact feels especially astounding.
It is safe to say that Minnie Wilde has kicked off her first musical year with a bang. The sense of grandeur, serenity, and dreaminess, make for three key components of a remarkably solid musical aesthetic. I am truly excited for what Minnie Wilde will come through with next.
Favourite Tracks: Adored | Neon Lullabies | Bliss
Independently Released
Enjoyment: ★★★★| Memorability: ★★★★★ | Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Uniqueness: ★★★★ | Satisfaction:★★★★ | Narrative:★★★★
