Japanese trio Boris are one of the most prolific acts in music, ever, and that has often worked in their favor; 'proper' releases like the adrenaline-charged anthems of 2002's Heavy Rocks were accompanied by gradual, sprawling pieces on Feedbacker, and this contrast worked beautifully when listened to in succession. For the first time, however, I feel that this affluence of new material may suffocate certain releases-- it even seems as though they've run the album title well dry. New Album is one of four releases to have surfaced this year, alongside the more palpable Attention Please, a 'revitalization' of Heavy Rocks, and a collaboration with native experimenter Merzbow. What's frightening is that New Album, the strongest release of the tetrad, is near-unobtainable for fans outside of Japan. Kudos to you, though, if you're willing to empty your wallet on the double LP.
Where Attention Please has been noted as the band's most accessible album to date, New Album not only exceeds in such territory but also enhances its effect in songwriting and production. Southern Lord devotees may be in disgust and apprehension of forthcoming material, but aficionados of the J-rock-and-pop variety might see this as an advancement a touch past the subset of traditional tunes. The metalheads in the conversation appear to assess this avenue as an instance of 'conformity' for Boris' career, as they figure that the limited-to-700 vinyl release of New Album is bound to garner some serious dough, right?
Behind the pristine studio additions stands a strong melodic backbone, one that is undeniable. These incidents have occurred in our lives before: you're waiting for your haircut, and while forced to listen to their choice radio station, a particularly catchy song comes on. Whether the glossy synthesizer tones are to your liking or not, the chorus remains memorable: the ethos of a sensible pop artist. One of the album's parallels to Attention Please, "Hope" features Takeshi's yearning croons over weeping strings as electronic transmissions pan across the trio's anxious rhythm. While the song holds water in the case of each release, the more tasteful vocal placement on New Album is enough to make it outweigh its competitor. Even the bona fide club hit "Black Original" embraces the cinematic production to its benefit; past its syrupy, Gaga-esque keyboard juts lies an opulence of electronic textures, from the warped vocal moans to the voltaic subtleties that skitter in nearly every corner.
The moment we all dread is marked by the time our favorite band attempts to reach a mainstream stature, however that instance is far from Boris' case, because patience, forethought, and diversity are all at the helm of these ten ditties. The band invests just as much strength in an instantaneous pop state as they do in a prolonged, ominous abyss. Boris have never made the same album twice (wait... dammit), and the chances of complacency in this friendlier phase are rather scarce. New Album is a testament to the band's versatility. Regardless of the path taken, Boris' indulgences in experimentation always lead them to uncommon realms-- a feat that very few groups are able to claim.
[Boris Website]
[Buy New Album from Tearbridge Records/Daymare Recordings]
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