House of Wolves

"Fold In the Wind is overflowing with acoustic-based songs that crawl up your spine and stay on your mind for days afterward. It's atmosphere with a heavy center — this due to Rey Villalobos' nearly in-tears vocals and the hazy production." - ITUNES

The standout album for this week captivated many it seems, and rightfully so. I’ve decided to hand the reigns of Pick of The Week over to my tremendously talented friend Claire, who fell into something of a lustful tizz over this album. She’s off the booze at the moment, so don’t worry, she’s a steady hand….

Fold In The WInd is the gently besieging debut from House of Wolves, the sobriquet of Los Angeles native Rey Villalobos. The 11-track album is an ageless, lo-fi soliloquy, marrying Villalobos’ classical training with indie-folk and resulting in an offering which is at once familiar and distinct.

Single and opener ‘50’s’ pleads ‘kiss me like it’s the fifties’, rousing its listener with Villalobos’ beautifully subdued guitar sounds, and a cascade of warm piano and horns. The title offering Fold in the Wind jars somewhat at the centre of the album, but serves a necessary jolt from the gorgeous lulling of the first five tracks. It sparseness jerks the listener to take heed of Villalobos’ lyricism, which is both idyllic and confessional. His androgynous vocals are reminiscent of Beach House’s Victoria Legrand, and the composition is refreshingly lacking in the synthetic production that threatens to overwhelm music today.

It is difficult to weed highlights from a rare album that begs to be listened to from beginning to end. ‘Jealous’ is an achingly sparse accession that sounds like a plea, ‘Ageless’ is soaring and evokes shades of My Bloody Valentine, and the gorgeous closing track ‘Flight’ farewells with piano and Villalobos murmuring ‘baby, you’re the one’.

Fold In The Wind is haunting, sexy, and inclined this reviewer to drink a glass of red at midday before embarking on an aimless cycle in the sunshine on the sixth listen in twenty four hours. House of Wolves’ offering is smouldering and hypnotic, and might seduce you to take the car onto the open highway in the company of someone forbidden.
- BANDCAMP HUNTER

House of Wolves honorable mention on KCRW, w/ Chuck P. - KCRW

There are many out there, including myself, that constantly say that they were born in the wrong time. We say this because we long for a life richer than the one that 2011 has laid before us. This most definitely includes the realm of romance. Sometimes, it is much more fulfilling to “be kissed like it’s the 50s,” as in proclaimed in “50’s,” the newest single from House of Wolves from their album Fold in the Wind.

2011’s culture is filled with emotionless, selfish, soulless robots that would rather be fist-pumping than focusing on what truly makes us human. In a methodical-but-beautiful way, House of Wolves have produced indie folk music that has not forgotten about what makes us human (“it’s the bitter side of life that I like”). The part where the song really turns is when the horn section enters, giving off a funeral procession-like sound. It's almost as if they're giving the last rites to everything that was once intermingled within the moral fiber of the majority: chivalry, true love, honor, soul, the ability to heal, etc.

Songs like “50’s” is the reason why I love music as much as I do. No matter how you feel about a certain situation, there will always be a song or lyric that will be able to be your musical match. For those like myself who feel they are living in a time where they do not fit, this House of Wolves single is perfect for you.

Keep an eye out for Fold In The Wind, set for release this June.
- IN YOUR SPEAKERS

Sometimes at work I get the chance to sit in a room all on my own. It’s great because I get so much more work done when I’m not distracted by the day to day nonsense of office life, but even better, I get to listen to as much music as I like without someone asking me to turn it down/off or play something more tuneful!

The downside is when I then discover a fantastic piece of music or album and can’t share it with anyone. So I thought I’d share it with you instead, aren’t you lucky? The music I’ve been listening to this morning is the debut album from House of Wolves, “Fold In The Wind”.

House of Wolves is the solo creation of singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist and former The Coral Sea frontman, Rey Villalobos. The name comes from the Spanish to English translation of his name, hold on, this is the second band I’ve liked that’s done that, I wonder what that means?

Although a Los Angeles resident, his family hails from Mexico and the Italian Adriatic coast and hints of this mixed background can be heard in his music. What I particularly love about this guy is that he cites Chopin as his first and main musical influence, very classy!

He’s had previous songs played on some TV shows and has toured with the likes of Sharon Van Etten, Villagers, White Rabbits, The Middle East and Avi Buffalo. The album is slated for release on June 17th.

I’ve included a couple of tracks from the album here to get those taste buds going. Firstly the beautifully plaintive “50's”, with tender vocals and a muted trumpet backing it gave me goosebumps when I first heard it. The second, “Jealous”, has an echo effect applied to his voice giving it an otherworldly sound as he sings over an acoustic guitar and is absolutely gorgeous.

These two tracks alone would definitely earn him our “Ones To Watch” label but if you’re in any doubt you can get a digital version of his album from his bandcamp page right now.
- LISTEN BEFORE YOU BUY

Pain is irrelevant in the face of euphoric nostalgia. The present might be dressed in unwelcome sorrow, but memories of what was hide the wounds of how unfortunate things have become. There's no ignorance of the bitterness that exists in the moment, but, over time, the negative is buried under the intense longing for the past and that cinematic love of the great, unforgettable memories. All is forgiven for another chance at the dream -- that which you only see in the movies. Here's a tender moment of a person with resilient faith that one person can change another for the better.

House of Wolves is the solo project of singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Rey Villalobos (the name "House of Wolves" comes from the translation of his last name from Spanish to English). There's a quiet yet captivating ambience to House of Wolves that only magnifies its vulnerability and sincerity. The honesty and utter lack of guile allow Villalobos to more accurately and convincingly convey what he feels without a need to poetically tuck himself away inside a pocket of mystery. This is folk music that expands and encompasses the listener with its careful consideration and inclusion of ambient music's absorbing textures and space. Within the serenity of his music, there's a sense that what Villalobos sings and expresses is something of secret significance -- the kind of thing most people only share through a whisper or in private to only one trustworthy soul.

Check out another track from House of Wolves called "Jealous" below.

MP3: House of Wolves - "Jealous"

"50's" and "Jealous" are from House of Wolves' forthcoming album Fold in the Wind, out June 17th. The album was produced and mixed by John Askew (The Dodos/Neko Case, Peggy Sue). Hear the whole thing below. - MIXMUSE TAPE

The name a band or artist selects for their themselves can say a lot about who they are as artists. For example, House of Wolves is the nom de guerre Los Angeles’ Rey Villalobos selected for himself, and it certainly speaks to who he is. Literally it would seem, as the name “House of Wolves” comes from a Spanish to English translation of his surname Villa-lobos. So if his choice of name is intended to suggest that Villalobos’ music is very personal to him, his debut album, Fold In The Wind, certainly speaks to that. Instrumentally speaking it is raw and largely unadorned, and most of the tracks on the album consist of little more than acoustic guitar and/or warmly ministerial piano. Indeed, the melodies, though certainly not an after thought, seem to be thoughtfully arranged stages for Villalobos to affectingly project his feelings through his voice. It is a skill he proves to be quite good at and which he successfully repeats throughout the album.

His powerful falsetto is quivering and tender from the album’s very first moments as he sings “kiss me like it’s the 50's” on the opening cut “50's.” And so it remains throughout the length of Fold In The Wind until he finally breathes in a hushed whisper “baby, baby, you’re the one” on closing track “Flight.” In part, the album succeeds due to Villalobos’ voice which very capably radiates warmth, compassion, and, simultaneously, pain, so that when he sings “it is the bitter side of life that I like” you know that he means it. I’ve frequently made it known that I appreciate music and food that retains flavor even when stripped down to its essential elements, and on Fold In The Wind, House of Wolves does just that. In that regard, the album pairs well with Kasey’s Lentil and Turnip Soup with Pounded Walnuts. The recipe, like the album, is delicious, but doesn’t rely on an entire shopping-list of exotic ingredients or time-consuming techniques to deliver amazing complexity. Instead, it relies on the natural flavors of its ingredients to offer a fully satisfying meal.
- Turntable Kitchen

House of Wolves is a one person project of singer/songwriter/multi-instru mentalist Rey Villalobos. His debut album Folds in the Winds has a very organic feel. You hear the strum and stroke of each instrument. The realness of each articulated consonant of every poetic word. House of Wolves comes from the English translation of the Spanish term “Villa-lobos” and you’ll hear Rey often refered to as Villalobos. Check out the track 50's , a tender track from the new album which you can pick up on Bandcamp. - Ride The Tempo

( go to link to see video )
It's been a hectic few months for the Cat On The Wall team, sadly more offline than on. 2011 started off with a whimper and has so far proceeded to be rather a crap and at times heartbreaking year. We'll spare you the details. In the music world however there's been some excellent new music that we've been itching to feature. For the time being you'll have to make do with a selection of videos, in the future we aim to feature some if not all these artists more indepth on COTW. - Cat on the Wall

click link below to read interview. - Define Us

It might be the bitter side of life that Rey Villalobos likes, but unlike this refrain in the final minute of House of Wolves’ opening song “50’s,” it’s his sense of sparse, majestic beauty that instead lies within the group’s forthcoming debut album, Fold in the Wind.

House of Wolves, the solo vehicle for Los Angeles songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Villalobos, is a significant sonic departure from the orchestral indie rock of his primary band, The Coral Sea, instead embracing a spare, haunting folk aesthetic. For that matter, no one is going to confuse House of Wolves with their more electronically inclined counterparts who fall under the wide umbrella of indie folk. Instead, it’s Villalobos’s measured pop sensibilities and the album’s organic beauty that makes Fold in the Wind such a stunning, cinematic collection of songs.

Relying on little more than acoustic guitar, piano, percussion, and the occasional horn motif, the songs that comprise Fold in the Wind smolder in deliberate fashion with an intimacy rarely experienced outside of live performance. Villalobos’s voice takes on a soothing, almost feminine quality that captures the essence of the gentle acoustic melodies. But the subtlety of the arrangements is perhaps the album’s most underrated and rewarding attribute. There are few artistic or emotional extremes here—just top-shelf, evocative songwriting that deepens with each successive listen.

Although the album doesn’t attempt to stray very far musically, the individual songs stand out in remarkable fashion. The tone-setting torch song “50’s” drips with nostalgia and breathless melancholy, while “There She Goes” is reminiscent of The Velvet Underground at their most reflective. But Fold in the Wind truly hits its stride in the middle of the album: the beautiful ballad “Follow Me,” the title track’s hypnotic chants, and the near perfect folk of “Roses In The Nordic Country” follow consecutively and are nothing short of a tour de force. The closest Fold in the Wind comes to a misstep is the second to last song “Waves,” which seems to lack the intangible spark that imbues the rest of the record.

It’s yet to be seen if House of Wolves will be a permanent side band for Villalobos or a one-off project to be swept away by the return of The Coral Sea. Regardless of the project’s future, Fold in the Wind is a true gem with songs that sit in stark contrast to the programmed synthesizers and drum machines that have become so ubiquitous in the recent musical landscape. This is an album that demands your patience, but it’s a patience that will be richly rewarded. - KEVCHINO

House of Wolves is Rey Villalobos’ solo project, which is set to release its debut album, Fold in the Wind, later this Spring. “50’s” is a soft tune that shines like a setting sun on a summer day. Distant trumpet wraps lightly around the warm strumming of a guitar while jangly percussion rings from below, all layered under Villalobos’ gentle, somewhat haunting, voice. The result is a devastatingly tender folk-pop song laced with poignant, heartfelt emotion. - Neon Waves

House of Wolves song "50's" featured on VOGUE ITAY TV!! - VOUGE

The new record Fold in the Wind by Los Angeles’ House of Wolves (aka Rey Villalobos) is awash in thick nostalgia and longing. Clearly he’s been listening to a lot of Nick Drake and that is never, ever a bad thing. I want to call this alt-folk. The songwriting is very strong, cinematic even. Rey has a knack for mise-en-scène - one that’s romantic and shot like a French New Wave film.

Give the whole record a listen - it’s a total headphoner. And look for it to come out sometime in May. - YVYNYL

Rey Villalobos of House of Wolves is mastering fragile romance nostalgia. His new record Fold in the Wind is set to release early spring can be fully streamed over at his bandcamp. And lucky for us Los Angelenos, Rey is a local himself so we will hopefully be seeing more of him around town in the following months.

And don’t forget to check out another amazing House of Wolves track 50’s over at YVYNYL. - Smoke Don't Smoke

House of Wolves is a solo effort by singer/songwriter and multiple-instrument player Rey Villalobos. The debut album is called Fold in the Wind, and is filled with haunting melodies, poetic lyrics, and a sound that is original. Bands that may come to mind when comparing to House of Wolves are: Elliot Smith, Sufjan Stevens, and Beach House.

In 2010 Rey could be found touring all over the place and finishing up the album. Fold in the Wind is due out this spring, but you can listen to the full thing below. The music is mellow and beautifully mesmerizing. The combination of ambient, indie, and folk never sounded so good. Make sure to get the album and you can also download the track "50's" for free below.
Fresh? - Oh So Fresh