Wolf Alice 'Bloom Baby Bloom' by Colin Solal Cardo
David Knight - 20th May 2025
Wolf Alice return with their first new music in three years and a video to defy expectations from Colin Solal Cardo - a musical theatre showstopper, inspired by Bob Fosse, choreographed by Ryan Heffington.
In the video for Bloom Baby Bloom, Solal Cardo sets the band's full-on rock 'n roll performance of the lead-off track from new album The Clearing within a dance rehearsal studio packed with dancers. From the maelstrom of bodies and activity, lead singer Ellie Rowsell emerges as both rock band frontwoman and integrated member of the 20 strong company of dancers.
The result is sensational - a relatively straightforward set-up that's orchestrated to perfection by Solal Cardo and his choreographer-accomplice Heffington, through colour, movement and sheer personality. And as the band move into serious rock territory with the track, this is an adrenalin-shot of a visual that feels counter-intuitive - and a triumph.
The influences are clear - particularly the Bob Fosse biopic (in all but name) All That Jazz and his various contributions to musicals. There's also the nods to various Fosse-influenced productions in the 70s that brought rock music together with the musical, including Fame.
Ultimately, Colin Solal Cardo and Ryan Heffington have paid due homage but also made the Wolf Alice completely fresh.
They have brought together are a cast of dancers who offer individual personality as well as collective brilliance to the piece. And above all it's the performance by the now raven-haired Ellie Rowsell that is a revelation. That's five stars. A very exciting introduction to the new album.
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David Knight - 20th May 2025
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Credits
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Production/Creative
- Director
- Colin Solal Cardo
- Producer
- Biba Thomas
- Producer
- Kitty Wordsworth
- Production Company
- SF
- Executive Producer
- DM
- Production Manager
- Tilly Gerrard
- 1st AD
- Ali Copland
- Production Assistant
- Ella Thomas @ellawthomas
- 2nd AD
- John Robinson
- 3rd AD
- Perdi Ogbourne
- Runners
- Asia Ahmed, Sergi Fiddes, Joe Heap
Camera
- Director of Photography
- Jeremy Valender
- 1st AC
- Mark Gee
- 2nd AC
- Jack Ainsworth @jack_obyrne_ainsworth
- Camera Trainee
- Iman Ahmed
Lighting/Grip
- Gaffer
- Greg Probert
- Key Grip
- Bobby Brown
Art
- Art Director
- Henry Hawksworth
- Production designer
- Samuel Overs
Wardrobe
- Stylist (Artist)
- Gary David Moore
- Make-up (Artist)
- Anna Payne
- Costume designer
- Lucy James
Choreography
- Choreographer
- Ryan Heffington
Commission
- Commissioner
- Michael Lewin
- Label
- Columbia Records
- Marketing
- Polly Withington
- Director of Visual Content
- Kat Cattaneo
Misc
- Hair & Make-up (Cast)
- Dasha Taivas
David Knight - 20th May 2025