South London-based Patrick Wolf has released his latest EP ‘Better or Worse’ shortly after his comeback album ‘Crying the Neck’, released last month. Blending folk music with baroque pop, Wolf creates music that sounds full and rich whilst still maintaining an intimate feel. Wolf takes inspiration from music around the world, with this latest release including elements of Irish folk and Spanish traditional music.
Patrick Wolf teased the release of his new EP on Instagram, playing a rendition of the title song ‘Better or Worse’ on the octave lyre. He also states in the Instagram post that he has had a five string electric viola made especially for his current tour, showcasing his creativity. Early in Wolf’s career, he made his own instruments whilst part of London’s underground art and music scenes. Wolf also studied French and lived in Malaga, Spain allowing him to speak both Spanish and French in his music.
His latest EP is a perfect example of this, the third track ‘Hymne Des Étrangers’ is a slow ballad sang in French while the 4th song ‘Mejora O Empeorar’ is a electronic-folk song sang in Spanish. On Instagram, Wolf wrote “I guess this a good time to tell you a “better or worse” e.p will be yours on Monday, with my first song I’ve written in the French language “Hymne Des Étrangers” and the Spanish language reworking and summer of 2025 re-production of Better or Worse called “Mejora O Empeorar””.
Patrick wolf released his debut album ‘Lycanthropy’ in 2004, first showcasing his unique blend of folk, electronica and baroque pop. In this album, he struggles with themes of isolation and addiction. These themes continue through his next releases, ‘Wind in the Wires’, released in 2005, through to ‘Lupercalia’, released in 2011. After the release of ‘Lupercalia’, Wolf took a long hiatus to focus on personal growth, sobriety and creativity. When he returned in 2023 with the ‘Night Safari EP’, it marked the beginning of a new chapter – one shaped by sobriety, reflection, and a deepening interest in language and cultural expression. ‘Better Or Worse’ continues that journey.
Wolf is currently touring his latest full-length album “Crying the Neck’ , fan honest and intimate album that includes highlights such as ‘Limbo’ featuring Zola Jesus, and ‘The Last of England’ a single Wolf calls “his national anthem”. Here is the music video to his latest single.
Patrick Wolf is playing a show at the beautiful open air Minack Theatre in Penzance, Cornwall on September 5 2025, where he will play his 2005 seminal album ‘Wind in the Wires’ to celebrate it’s 20 year anniversary, before heading over to the USA and Canada to begin his tour there. Tickets for his show at Penzance are available here
Tracklist:
- Better Or Worse
- Hymne Des Étrangers
- She Didn’t Dance
- Mejora O Empeorar
- Better Or Worse (Instrumental)
- Better Or Worse (El Lobo Remix)
