With the release of Wake Me in the Sunrise on January 7, 2025, Wilhelm embarks on an intimate and vulnerable musical journey that feels like a deeply personal diary brought to life. As the third solo album from the guitarist and vocalist known for his work with Murnau and The House Flies, this collection of nine tracks represents a significant departure from his earlier, more elaborate compositions. The album finds Wilhelm distilling his sound down to its purest form: raw acoustic guitar, haunting vocals, and a lo-fi production that invites listeners into an immersive and nostalgic soundscape.
Recorded over the span of a year and a half using a 4-track Tascam digital multitracker, Wake Me in the Sunrise captures the essence of a time long gone, as if listening to a memory you can almost touch. Using only the multitracker’s built-in condenser microphones, Wilhelm crafted a project that exudes an organic warmth, deliberately unpolished to reflect the gritty honesty of the songwriting. The result is a collection that feels both intimate and expansive, as though the listener is eavesdropping on Wilhelm’s most private moments.
The album opens with “Midnight Caller on the Moon,” a track that sets the tone for the rest of the album with its fragile, introspective vocals and the haunting backdrop of a reed organ. The listener is immediately transported to a space of quiet contemplation, as Wilhelm narrates a nighttime journey with soft melodies that feel almost like a whispered secret. The track’s minimalistic arrangement sets a haunting yet comforting mood that carries through the album’s nine tracks.
Next comes “Obituary Page,” a melancholic reflection on loss and the passage of time. With sparse instrumentation and Wilhelm’s fragile vocal delivery, the song feels like a moment frozen in time. As the song unfolds, the listener is drawn further into Wilhelm’s world, where every word feels like a revelation.
“Upon the Thinnest Lips” continues the introspective journey, with a sense of quiet urgency in the delivery. The guitar’s sparse plucking underpins Wilhelm’s fragile voice, creating a contrast that mirrors the fragile nature of the song’s lyrics. It’s a track that balances between vulnerability and strength, a theme that runs through much of the album.
As the album progresses, “All the Things I Need to Say” offers a subtle yet powerful emotional release. The track’s sparse instrumentation allows Wilhelm’s vocals to take center stage, carrying the weight of the lyrics. It’s a cathartic moment that opens the door to deeper emotional territory. “Cloudless Wonder Eyes” follows suit, with its lush, atmospheric qualities and a sense of yearning that resonates deeply with the listener. The song’s hypnotic melody and somber tone showcase Wilhelm’s ability to blend melancholy with beauty.
The album’s sixth track, “One to Keep You Warm,” offers a slight shift in mood, providing a moment of warmth amidst the album’s otherwise introspective landscape. The acoustic guitar work here is tender and intimate, complementing Wilhelm’s calming vocals. It’s a brief moment of solace before the album veers back into darker, more complex emotional terrain.
“Hopeless Drifting Afternoon” is a standout track on the album, as Wilhelm’s voice takes on a more forlorn tone, mirroring the song’s sense of aimlessness and desolation. The stripped-back instrumentation allows the vulnerability of the lyrics to shine through, as the song builds into an emotionally charged crescendo. It’s a track that lingers long after it ends, inviting the listener to sit with the weight of its themes.
“Prophet’s Gun” delivers an unexpected intensity, with the song’s ominous atmosphere reflecting a sense of foreboding. Wilhelm’s delivery is more urgent here, his voice rising above the sparse instrumentation. It’s a stark contrast to the quieter moments of the album, showcasing Wilhelm’s ability to shift tonal gears with subtlety and grace.
Finally, the album closes with “Hold Your Head Now, Baby,” a gentle, bittersweet conclusion to the album’s journey. The track’s final harmonics fade slowly, leaving the listener with a sense of quiet resolution. It feels like the closing of a chapter, the echoes of a story that will remain with you long after the last note is played.
Wake Me in the Sunrise is a remarkable return to simplicity for Wilhelm, whose previous work was known for its intricate compositions. Here, he pares down his approach, allowing the raw emotion of the lyrics and the warmth of the acoustic guitar to take center stage. It’s an album that feels timeless, a collection of songs that will resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the quiet turmoil of self-reflection. Available on all digital platforms, with a special vinyl release exclusively on Bandcamp, Wake Me in the Sunrise is a captivating experience that invites listeners to step into Wilhelm’s world and explore the fragile beauty of human emotion.
