The Welsh and Anglo collective Wenallt Star are back pushing musical boundaries with their latest seven-minute single, ‘HE’. Following the underground success of their 2025 record ‘…all her geese are swans’, this new track serves as a bold teaser for a suite of eight singles culminating in a full-length project slated for December 2026. Rather than sticking to a predictable pop formula, the group embraces a deeply experimental soundscape that weaves spoken-word poetry through classical instrumentation and heavy electronic rhythms. It is an ambitious, genre-defying piece that prioritises mood, texture, and literary expression over typical song structures.
The composition kicks off with a pristine string quartet, wrapping the listener in a serene, almost triumphant atmosphere. This early elegance acts as a clever sonic decoy. Just as you settle into the acoustic warmth, the strings abruptly drop away, replaced by an oppressive, subterranean electronic beat. Sound artist Duncan Chapman bridges these two distinct worlds, introducing a dub-heavy intensity that producer Sean South mixes with a brilliantly menacing edge. The transition from light to dark is jarring but incredibly effective, dragging the track from a tranquil concert hall straight into the depths of a dimly lit nightclub.
Navigating this shifting sonic landscape is David Lambert’s spoken-word delivery. Drawing on the cut-up techniques favoured by writers like William S. Burroughs, Lambert dissects text from John Berger’s novel The Foot of Clive to form a fragmented internal monologue. Lines like “He had too much imagination” feel intimately self-reflective, inviting us directly into the protagonist's anxious mind. Adding to this psychological depth is Lucy Leland, whose fractured, haiku-esque vocal interruptions provide a fascinating counter-perspective. When she delivers phrases such as “Desire makes him anxious”, it heightens the tension, examining the central figure from the outside looking in.
Because the track relies so heavily on abrupt tonal shifts and sudden silences, the narrative flow can occasionally feel slightly disjointed. Some transitions lack fluidity, making certain passages feel like isolated musical islands rather than parts of a seamlessly connected journey. Yet, this fractured design seems entirely deliberate, mirroring the chaotic thought processes being narrated. When the acoustic strings finally return to close the song, it provides a welcome moment of calm and a satisfying sense of resolution.
‘HE’ is a daring, thought-provoking listen that rewards patience. Dive into the official Wenallt Star website and track their evolving digital footprint across TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook. to catch the remaining puzzle pieces of this expansive musical experiment.
