That funky guitar riff, the jumpy beat and the smooth vocals from Stephen Day. ‘Stay With Me’ has the vibe of Wong that’s for sure. Upbeat funk mixed with that city pop sounding backing from the brass section, a great start to Lost In The Wonder. And we even get a slick sax solo at the end, lovely stuff. The feeling shifts in the second track ‘Afterglow’, not as flashy without the brass, but the bass and guitar work more than makes up for it. Elysia Biro has a good vocal for the song too, it’s soothing paired with the riffs. ‘Better Than This’ starts almost like a house track, the bass and thumping along with Cody Fry delivering a vocal reminiscent of dance tracks from an age gone by, but it works. Wong comes into his own later, when the guitar is left to its own devices, pure funk in that riff. An enjoyable track. ‘Tongue Tied’ starts off with a keyboard riff that sounds like ‘Digital Love’ by Daft Punk (a great track may I add), it’s so uplifting. Day’s vocal is good on this as well, really helps the track stay on that uplifting feeling. It’s certainly a catchy tune. ‘Blame It On The Moon’ is pure funk, the brass going full on and the bass just makes your head move. Wong has a short but sweet solo midway through the track, a nice touch.
I have enjoyed the tracks on the album so far, the only issue I have is that they seem to be over too quickly, it’s right as you’re getting into the groove and it seems like the timer runs out. Perhaps I will be proven wrong later in the album (hopefully). ‘The Big Payoff’ wastes no time throwing you into the deep end as the bass and guitar riffs are in your face from the get-go. This track could be perfectly fitted to a drive along the coast of Miami on a hot summer’s night, it has that city funk feeling to it. Wong breaks into that signature funk riff he’s so good at, sounding familiar to the work he did with Vulfpeck in the past (some of his best work). The brass are on point on this track too. An all-round great track. The next track kicks off with a loud synth and poppy beat. Yam Haus adds this strong vocal to the track; it feels like an end to a film. Wong has this lovely back and forth with the guitar and Haus’s vocal, it works really well in the chorus. And on the way out it feels like the guitar starts to sing, a solid track indeed. ‘All Night, Alright’ is a bit of a cheesy number. It has that feel off a classic funk tune, and Taylor Hanson’s vocal on it sounds like a desperate attempt to yearn for a lover. But it still has its merits in the smooth backing from Wong’s guitar.
Now we have a classic lineup, Theo Katzman features on ‘Lisa Never Wanted To Be Famous’, which for the Vulfpeck fans is great. This one starts off very calmly with just the piano, then the bass and drums come in slow. Theo sounds as pristine as ever, the vocals on the man never fail to impress. Wong has his fun on guitar later on too, and it sounds brilliant. The title track is very relaxing; Benny Sings’ vocal is soothing with the dreamy soundscape to accompany him. It has a Lo-Fi feeling to it. I like it. ‘Roses Fade’ is another chilled-out tune, the vocals from Devon Gilfillian feel very soulful. The riff from Wong dances in the ears, entrancing almost. Towards the end of the song there is this brilliant buildup from the whole band, it’s a cacophony of sound and it is mesmerising. The best track so far. ‘From Now On’ is the final track. A sweet ballad with some lovely vocals and the band are great here, it really does feel like the curtains are closing on a show. We even get some harmonica on the way out, a nice way to end the proceedings.
Lost In The Wonder is an enjoyable listen, the first half may have gone quicker than one had hoped for, but it certainly makes up for it in the second half with some longer tracks and brilliant music from Wong and co. Funk and a little bit of soul in the mix too, if you were a fan of Wong’s previous work you will enjoy this.
Cory Wong: Lost In The Wonder – Out 3 February 2026
