Bory - Never Turns To Night

 

Welcome to Portland's Bory and his second album. It is a corking melodic listen. The wonderfully laid back vocals just weave and warp over you around some really all encompassing unusual arrangements. It is an album which gives you real affection to it.

It is also a whistle stop tour around the genres without ever losing its touch and feel. The harmonies are blissful, a little west coast maybe, but it is as at home with Slacker Rock and the Psych Pop ventures are absolutely notable and Psych Pop is always gonna grab me.

So you get the smooth easy listening of The Test contrasting with the 60s Psych Pop of Runner's High, a splendid pastoral pop sort of affair. The dreamy What I Needed acoustically mixing Folk and Indie Pop contests with the top notch Power Pop of Living Proof.

By The Lake is life affirming Jangle Pop, all Glasgow 80s, yet That's Jazz mixes 60s California with Brit Pop and even threatens a little Noise Pop, far more urgent than what else is on display. These are real examples of how great the variety is here.

We'll Burn That Bridge When We Get To It is a masterpiece of an opener, very Andy Partridge in places with a cracking other worldly instrumental arrangement. The arrangements throughout are what seals off a great album. A fascinating listen.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl or as a download.

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Bory - Who's A Good Boy

I get to return the favour to Tim at Dagger Zine as I cover the Bory debut album too. Power Pop is experiencing a real revival at the moment and it is largely da kidz that are leading it. It is all worth noting that Mo Troper is involved in much of it and he is here again as Engineer and Producer. 

Whereas much that we've heard thus far is built on rockier guitars, the Bory album is a much gentler affair. At times Indie Guitar Pop, at others venturing into Slacker Rock and then there is the magnificent End Of The World, beautifully arranged and simply jaw dropping.

Bory is Portland Oregon's Brenden Ramirez, whose voice suits this song perfectly, likewise with the Indie Pop of We Both Won. But Ramirez is equally adept at Power Pop. Wreck jangles wonderfully to a Jeff Lynne like Power Pop Beat.

Feel The Burn is great West Coast Slacker Rock with ace vocal harmonies. Our New Home goes all Gerry Rafferty and North Douglas is a ringer for Dropkick. Sideline even gets Teenage Fanclub with an addictive riff. 

The biggest thing you take from What A Good Boy is that great riffs don't always need Power. The gentleness and calm displayed is just as effective as any rock out. A splendid debut album awaits your lugholes. Trust me, this album will charm you completely.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is also available on vinyl.

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