It’s difficult to get a firm grip on what makes Mat Sweet (the man behind Boduf Songs) tick. It would certainly seem that it’s not enough for him to merely present his feelings; he wants to make us feel with him. Such a desire has resulted in a change of musical approach for album number five. The Red House Painters-esque acoustic format previously favoured by Sweet is here ditched for a more varied palate that sees him shooting for the dense, if uncluttered, soundscape approach of Swans as well as the seamlessly contradictory arrangements of Radiohead.
At times this more fleshed out approach serves Sweet well, but at times it also contributes to 'Burnt Up on Re-Entry' lacking a bit of personality and nowhere is this more apparent than what is clearly designed as the focal point of the album, 'Everyone Will Let You Down in the End'. The repeated mantra-like title is not only effectively a crib from Nine Inch Nails’ 'Hurt', it also approaches territory that is slightly too ‘emo’; a rather unsuitable divergence from the record’s art rock modus operandi.
This is a record that could occasionally do with just a couple fewer new ideas. Too often the emotional pull of the songs is somewhat negated as a result of the attempts to explore different sonic plains. That’s not to say that 'Burnt Up on Re-Entry' is a poor record. It just lacks a little driving force. Sweet is an immensely talented songwriter, and his quest to broaden Boduf Songs’ musical landscape is admirable, but here the best moments are either the most straightforward or those that are most reminiscent of his previous work. This suggests that the new Boduf Songs sound is awaiting a little definition. 'Burnt Up on Re-Entry' has lots of the ingredients of a great record; one just senses a little more work on the recipe is needed.
'Burnt Up on Re-Entry' is out on Monday via Southern Records. Boduf Songs play Café Oto in London (with the wonderful Jessica Bailiff) on 17th April.
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At times this more fleshed out approach serves Sweet well, but at times it also contributes to 'Burnt Up on Re-Entry' lacking a bit of personality and nowhere is this more apparent than what is clearly designed as the focal point of the album, 'Everyone Will Let You Down in the End'. The repeated mantra-like title is not only effectively a crib from Nine Inch Nails’ 'Hurt', it also approaches territory that is slightly too ‘emo’; a rather unsuitable divergence from the record’s art rock modus operandi.
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