Changing Modes – “Welcome to Wonderland”
Changing Modes Take Listeners on a Vivid Journey with Welcome to Wonderland
Brooklyn’s genre-bending ensemble Changing Modes return with Welcome to Wonderland, an ambitious and kaleidoscopic album that fuses raw punk energy with the sophistication of Baroque pop. Released on May 18, 2024, this record sees the band—helmed by the songwriting duo of Wendy Griffiths and Yuzuru Sadashige—at their most adventurous yet, delivering a sound that’s as unpredictable as it is immersive.
Drawing from influences as diverse as J.S. Bach, Sparks, and The Stranglers, Welcome to Wonderland thrives on contrast. Angular guitar riffs clash with soaring flute and violin melodies, while the commanding vocals of Grace Pulliam steer the listener through a post-pandemic landscape of uncertainty, resilience, and reinvention. Each track feels like a movement in a larger, theatrical narrative—equal parts art-rock, chamber-pop, and punk attitude, all glued together by a restless creative spirit.
Recorded at Virtue and Vice Studio and The Cutting Room, the album benefits from a rich, analog warmth thanks to a mastering process that incorporated tape for the first time. This decision pays off, giving the record a depth that balances its more experimental flourishes with an inviting, lived-in sound. Whether it’s the tight interplay between the rhythm section, the unexpected saxophone bursts from Greg Sigman, or the subtle orchestral textures, every layer of Welcome to Wonderland feels intentional, adding to its dynamic and immersive quality.
Lyrically, the album is a reflection on the strange, shifting world left in the wake of the pandemic. Themes of adaptation, self-discovery, and existential questioning run through the record, giving it an emotional weight that resonates even in its most playful moments. Tracks transition seamlessly from propulsive and urgent to hauntingly introspective, mirroring the emotional rollercoaster of recent years.
For long-time fans, Welcome to Wonderland represents the culmination of years of experimentation and refinement. For new listeners, it serves as an exhilarating introduction to one of Brooklyn’s most distinctive and inventive acts. With this release, Changing Modes prove that they are still evolving, still pushing boundaries, and still making music that refuses to be boxed in.