Bath's Alex Pester will bring the average age down here considerably. In his early 20's, Boy is his sixth album, count 'em. He also inhabits a world that is ideally suited to what we do. Whilst most his age would be reaching for the beats and autotune, Pester is much more ambitious and far behind his years.
Boy is a mix of McCartney Pop, 70s Pop Rock, Piano Pop and The Lilac Time. More importantly, there is some wonderful Psych Pop on display. Indeed, the opener, Spiteful Song, is a wonderful journey into the latter genre, approaching seven minutes and like a mellower Orgone Box.
That Psych Pop is what stands out most, very 60s, but it's not all backward Guitar and Eastern Riffs, enough to bring an old man like myself to tears, such is the gentle beauty. Indeed parts of Christmas venture well into Toytown.
Yet, How Could He Change Your Way approaches Folk Pop and Sad But True is very Indie Pop, almost C86. The Rain is very Stephen Duffy and Moon Song is real 70s Singer Songwriter Bedroom Pop, wonderfully so. A Tongue-Tied Tiger is Rick Corcoran to a tee.
Boy is slightly falsetto McCartney and Living In The World even rocks out a little. and is Pester's most modern venture. The whole album is like a soundscape, beautifully arranged and performed, clever to the extreme, but never losing sight of the melodic pop.
The album belies Pester's tender years, you would expect that is performed after years and years of perfecting his trade. It is also another example of how Listening To This Week continues to reveal the longer format, something that was always intended. Simply Magnificent!
You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on CD and as a download.
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