Review Summary: Simple is key
There’s something beautiful about simplicity. While complexities and intricacies can be rewarding to dive into, something simple and concise can be just as rewarding.
Sundiver is just that: simple. Boston Manor continues to build on their ambient foundation of recent outputs like
Datura and bring back some of the aggression from early efforts like
Welcome to the Neighbourhood. It’s as simple as that.
Throughout
Sundiver, many of the tracks work to bring the energy and grit of Boston Manor’s heavier output. The singles stretch of “Container” and “Sliding Doors” features verses of subdued guitar riffs contrasted by explosive choruses filled with catchy hooks. The latter of which features some of their most aggressive moments with a screamed pre-chorus and breakdown full of intensity. “HEAT ME UP” further utilizes this dynamic of soft verse-explosive chorus with one of the most emotive vocal performances. “Why I Sleep” and “Fornix” is a hard-hitting combo halfway through the record with gritty guitars and punchy bass lines that accentuate the darker tone of
Sundiver, with “Fornix” being one of the clear highlights of the album with its constant energy and soaring vocal melodies across the chorus. This is where the simplicity of the record lies. This is Boston Manor doing what they do best, and there’s just something so beautiful about it.
However, where
Sundiver excels is beyond their typical “simplicity.” “Datura (Dawn)” and “Morning Star” are rather unique tracks in the band’s discography. While they’ve shown some experimentation with interludes and ambient focus on previous tracks like “Shelter from the rain” in their last output, these are notable tracks for how much of a focus the atmosphere is. Though “Morning Star” is a pure interlude, “Datura (Dawn)” allows the reverb-laden guitars and ambiance to guide the soft-spoken vocal melodies in a beautiful way. “Horses In A Dream” leans into this ambiance with a track built around effect-driven guitars and a groovy bass line – simple but well executed. Similarly, “What Is Taken, Will Never Be Lost” focuses on a stripped down acoustic progression that sets the foundation for the track, accentuated by beautiful vocal layering and subtle atmospheric synths that elevate the track to a new level.
But nothing quite explains the beauty behind
Sundiver quite like “DC Mini.” With its bleak verses complemented by its emotional chorus, the closer shows a slower side of the band that dives deep into its darker tone. Along with vocal help from Debbie Gough of Heriot, her screams and haunting vocals further accentuate the solemn style of the track saying
“this is how it ends.” The song deconstructs, element by element, until the subtle atmosphere and reverb is left, ending off
Sundiver in a somber way, only for it to begin again through “Datura (Dawn).”
While it may not have the same variety as
GLUE or the staying power of
Welcome to the Neighbourhood, Boston Manor’s newest album is beautiful in its own right. It builds upon everything the band has established, bringing back more of the old grit and improving the atmospheric style of recent efforts. It doesn’t do much, and some may consider
Sundiver simple in their list of outputs - but there’s so much to be found within the simplicity.
