Released in 2017, Visions of a life is the album that proved Wolf Alice were here to stay. After the massive success of their debut, there was a lot of pressure on their second record, and they responded by making something even bigger and more diverse. It went on to win the Mercury Prize, cementing their place as one of the most important British bands of the last decade. It’s a sprawling, ambitious record that refuses to be pinned down to a single genre.

The sound is incredibly varied – jumping from heavy, fuzzy grunge to delicate dream-pop and even some synth-driven moments. Ellie Rowsell’s vocals are the glue that holds it all together, shifting effortlessly from a soft whisper to a fierce scream. It feels like a journey through various moods and styles, but it never feels disjointed. Instead, it feels like a band exploring every corner of their creativity and having a blast while doing it.

“Don’t delete the kisses” is a standout for its pure, nostalgic romanticism and spoken-word verses, while “Yuk foo” is a short, sharp burst of punk energy that provides a great contrast. The title track, “Visions of a life”, is an eight-minute epic that goes through several movements, showing just how far the band had come in terms of their songwriting and arrangement skills.

What makes this album so exciting to revisit is its sheer unpredictability. It’s a record that feels alive and constantly shifting. It captures that feeling of being in your twenties and trying to make sense of the world, with all the messiness and beauty that comes with it. It’s an essential modern classic that sounds just as powerful today as it did when it first dropped.