Wilco have never been ones to stick to the script. Across 30 years together they have continuously broken elements of indie-rock and Americana apart, reassembling them into enduringly popular records such as ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’, ‘A Ghost Is Born’ and ‘Sky Blue Sky’. Led by Jeff Tweedy, they return with the EP ‘Hot Sun Cool Shroud’, a suitably eclectic six track collection that, as with all Wilco projects, is hard to pin down.
Hot Sun leans into their folk side before segueing into a gnarly, bluesy section. Rather than feeling in conflict with itself, though, the track is a fascinating blend that somehow manages to work. Livid, meanwhile, is the sort of short, snappy jolt of full-throttle rock that most won’t associate with Wilco — it’s ideally suited to an EP of this nature, putting their musical prowess front and centre.
Ice Cream is a gorgeous, stripped-back number built around light sonic textures and Tweedy’s vocals. It’s a light treat, perfect for a summer’s evening, pointing to a more vulnerable side to the group — reflective but lush regardless.
Annihilation has a rootsy feel to it, especially in the guitar work. It is another intriguing shift in direction from such a chameleonic group, showing they are just as at home with straight up rock as they are in more acoustic and folk grooves. Say You Love Me is a soaring, almost anthemic way to close the EP — it’s easy to picture fans swaying to and singing along.
At just six tracks, this is a tantalising tease of new material from one of modern rock’s most intriguing and beguiling groups. Typically, it is difficult to categorise and shows Wilco constantly experimenting and pushing themselves, resulting in a thrilling listen that is far more than a stopgap between longer releases.
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