W (Boris album)

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W
Studio album by
Boris
Released21 January 2022 (2022-01-21)
Recorded2021
Genre
Length41:34
LabelSacred Bones
ProducerBoris
Boris chronology
2R0I2P0
(2020) 		W
(2022) 		Heavy Rocks
(2022)

W is the twenty-seventh studio album by Japanese experimental band Boris, released 21 January 2022 on the Sacred Bones label.[2]

Background

W is intended to be a companion piece to the band's 2020 studio album NO, with the titles of the two albums combining to create the word NOW.[3] Whereas the previous album focused on aggressive hardcore songs, W focuses on ethereal and ambient compositions to serve as a counterpoint.[4] The two albums are intended to address the conflicts and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,[5] with the band describing the project as “a continuous circle of harshness and healing".[6]

Several reviewers noticed that W builds upon the song "Interlude" which closed the previous album, with other reviewers finding connections between various songs on each album.[7][5] Among recent Boris albums, W is unusual because guitarist Wata performs all of the lead vocals.[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.6/10[9]
Metacritic81/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Beats Per Minute86%[11]
Clash8/10[12]
Loud and Quiet8/10[13]
Our Culture Mag[14]
Paste8.0/10[15]
Pitchfork7.8/10[16]

Upon its release, W received largely positive reviews. Greg Hyde of Backseat Mafia noted the haunting quality of Wata's vocals, and concluded that "fans of Boris should find it interesting to hear the band perform material that is far more ethereal than that which they will be used to hearing them play."[4] Metal Injection noted that the album's ambient compositions appear to be influenced by artists as diverse as My Bloody Valentine, Portishead, and John Cage, and noted that the album highlights lesser-known new age and psychedelic components of Boris's sound.[5] Reviewer Alex Deller of The Quietus noted that not all of the album is slow and ambient, with some of the band's customary aggressive riffs appearing occasionally to add a sense of variety. Deller called the album "an intricately-wrought, nest-like space that manages to intrigue and fascinate despite the familiar elements that have been used in its construction".[1]

Invisible Oranges described W as shoegaze with elements of electronic music and drone metal, concluding that the album "takes their [Boris's] noisier textures to new heights while leveraging Wata’s vocals to alternately lull, scintillate, and shush the listener."[6] In a review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek noted that Wata's quiet vocals often fail to rise above the sonic backdrop, but concluded that this contributes to the album's atmospheric nature while the album "offers a more elegant, restrained side of Boris than we've ever encountered before."[7]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."I Want to Go to the Side Where You Can Touch..."5:24
2."Icelina"5:18
3."Drowning by Numbers"4:16
4."Invitation"2:56
5."The Fallen"4:30
6."Beyond Good and Evil"3:51
7."Old Projector"4:38
8."You Will Know (Ohayo Version)"9:20
9."Jozan"1:25
Total length:41:34
Japanese edition (bonus track)[17]
No.TitleLength
10."Solioquy"6:19
Total length:47:56

Personnel

Boris

  • Takeshi – bass, guitar, vocals
  • Wata – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, accordion, echo, music box
  • Atsuo – drums, electronics, percussion, vocals

Additional personnel

References

  1. ^ a b Deller, Alex (20 January 2022). "Extreme Healing: W By Boris". The Quietus. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  2. ^ Eede, Christian. "Boris Detail New Album, 'W'". The Quietus. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  3. ^ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (2021-11-30). "Boris Announce New Album W, Share New Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  4. ^ a b Hyde, Greg (2022-01-21). "Album Review: Boris – W". Backseat Mafia. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  5. ^ a b c Stewart-Panko, Kevin (2022-01-20). "Album Review: BORIS W". Metal Injection. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  6. ^ a b Williams, Colin (17 January 2022). "Boris' "W": A Lullaby for the Apocalypse". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Jurek, Thom. "Boris: W". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  8. ^ Sacher, Andrew (30 November 2021). "Boris announce new album 'W'". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  9. ^ "W by Boris reviews | Any Decent Music". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  10. ^ "Critic Reviews for W - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  11. ^ Wohlmacher, John (January 21, 2022). "Album Review: Boris - W | Beats Per Minute". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  12. ^ Weaver, David (January 27, 2022). "Boris - W | Reviews | Clash Magazine". Clash. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  13. ^ Jenkins, Dafydd. "Boris - W - Album Review - Loud And Quiet". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  14. Our Culture
    . Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  15. ^ Reyes-Kulkarni, Saby (January 24, 2022). "Boris Show They May Never Run Out of Ideas on Experimental Shoegaze/Pop Hybrid W". Paste. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  16. ^ Coney, Brian (February 10, 2022). "Boris: W Album Review | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "「Boris / W」| KiliKiliVilla". KiliKiliVilla (in Japanese). Retrieved January 28, 2023.
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