Boris: Smile

Label: Southern Lord

Proving to be one of the most prolific artists in recent years, Smile marks the first new offical Boris album since 2005’s Pink. Following a collaboration Merzbow, Smile delivers on all expectations and surpasses them as well. The opening “Flower Sun Rain” moves into a more experimental direction than anything Boris have attempted as of yet. The track also marks the return of Ghosts’ Michio Kurihara with whom Boris previously collaborated with on 2006’s Rainbow. With the tracks echo-laden vocals and otherworldly noise washes, Kurihara’s influence is clearly felt. Over the next three tracks Boris tread a more familiar path with “Buzz-in” and “Laser Beam” delivering the speed and heaviness we’ve come to love from them. With it’s sweet harmonies and guitar effects “My Neighbor Satan” is Boris at their most melodic. The finest moments of Smile comes in “You were Holding an Umbrella” and the stunning closer. With Kurihara in tow, “umbrella” slowly builds to a climax of guitar washes echoing Ghost at their finest. It is the perfect transistion to the closer, the untitled 15 minute track is probaly the heaviest and most beautiful piece of music you will hear all year. Smile is easily Boris’s most accesible record to date but it’s also their most fully realised and challenging. In short, this one will leave with very much to Smile about, indeed.
(Christopher)