Album review: latest record moisturiser by Wet Leg shows creative growth

Isle of Wight duo (now a five-piece quintet) Wet Leg, released their sophomore LP on July11.  The album, moisturiser, continues with the energy of their debut release, but also displays more focus and complexity in the band’s creative growth. Ahead of the UK act’s Austin City Limits Music Festival appearance this October, we’re sharing our thoughts on the upstart group’s new record which was released on July 11 on Domino Records. 

Backtrack to SXSW 2022: mere weeks prior to the release of their self-titled debut LP,  and on the tails of months-long “Chaise Longue” hype, the duo was all the buzz. It seemed that wherever you went, someone was talking about a Wet Leg show they were grateful to have witnessed.

Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers  double down on their hallmark characteristics of understated wit and overt irony, combined with gritty guitar-driven instrumentation. On this second studio effort, the rest of the band had a hand in the stellar songwriting. Guitarist Josh Mobarki, Ellis Durand(bass), and drummer Henry Holmes, each contributed to the lyrical composition.  The punk-infused tracklist displays the band’s versatility as the album progresses; each number as catchy as the previous one.

Producer Dan Carey returned to insure the fingerprint sound that catapulted the band’s debut to such soaring prominence, was still very much present.

 Opening with “CPR,” the track prominently displays the band’s confident charm and lyrical expansion with a cynical take on a love song. At this point, we’d expect nothing less from the UK islanders.

The third track,  and first single released for the album, “catch these fists,” catapulted the LP  into an energetic fight song.  The song sounds like it was written to be performed live.  The tempo shifts several times throughout moisturiser, most noticeably on “pokemon,” a feel-good, dance-inducing number that is the eighth track of the album, and “11:21,” which serves as the second-to-last number on the LP. With the final tune, “Pillow Talk,” the intensity picks back up. Overall the new recording is a step-up creatively for the band while building on the success of their debut.

Wet Leg puts on a great live show, and when listening to moisturiser, one gets the notion that live performances were in mind when the songs were composed. In the Fall of 2022, Wet Leg played a mid-afternoon set at ACL Fest.  It was a standout performance that weekend. The group will return to the festival this October, surely with a later performance slot, and hopefully more allotted time.  Grab tickets to see the group at ACL Fest here. Or find a show in your area via the Wet Leg tour schedule.

Track List:

CPR
catch these fists
liquidize
catch these fists
davina mccall
jennifer’s body
mangetout
pond song
pokemon
pillow talk
don’t speak
11:21
u and me at home

All photos courtesy of Wet Leg 

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