Choir Boy - Gathering Swans (Review)
A majestic album that sounds like synthpop perfected...
8th May 2020
Dais
My Rating:
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8.3
/10
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REVIEW
Choir Boy hits the sweet spot between synth pop bliss and goth pop balladry on sophomore album Gathering Swans, a masterclass in 80s revivalism that provides as much lyrical humour as it does emotion, a one-two combination that elevates the experience of listening to this album from beautifully tranquil to poised, intelligent and provocative. It's no surprise that I like this album, my bias for artists influenced by The Cure prevailing yet again, but that's not to discredit the absolute perfection that this album's instrumentals are, helping to set this album above so many of its peers and even some of the style contemporaries (although not rising above The Cure themselves, unsurprisingly).
Now, I won't pretend this album is exempt from flaws, and the aspect for which I am most critical is easily the sound. Of course, this may sound extremely hypocritical considering I've just spent a paragraph commending that very same thing, but that was from the perspective of enjoyment and production, whereas here I'm approaching these same instrumentals but from the perspective of ambition. This is not an ambitious album in the slightest, and that lack of ambition is the primary problem I have with it. The sound may be beautifully executed, but it isn't doing anything new or particularly interesting... and that's mostly fine! I can still very much enjoy this album, in fact I can and do love it, but the simple fact is that it will never top out the artists it's derived from, just as The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" will never top "Take On Me".
Now, overall this is an exquisite entry into modern synthpop and one that you definitely shouldn't miss, and I implore any synthpop and goth pop fans to check this thing out for its luscious, rich textures; enigmatic, emotive vocals and impeccable production. This is something special.
TRACK RATINGS (/10)
1. It's Over - 9
2. Toxic Eye - 8
3. Complainer - 8
4. Nites Like This - 7
5. St. Angela Merici - n/a
6. Sweet Candy - 9
7. Shatter - 10
8. Eat The Frog - 5
9. Happy To Be Bad - 7
10. Gathering Swans - 8
BREAKDOWN
Ambition: 4
Atmosphere: 9
Catchiness/Enjoyability: 8
Content/Ideas: 8
Emotion/Engaging: 9
Execution: 9
Production: 9
Structure: 8
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Lyrics: 9
Vocals/Flows: 10
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Total:
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