Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care

JUNIOR BOYS - BEGONE DULL CARE (DOMINO)

3 albums old, the Canadian duo of Jeremy Greenspan & Matthew Didemus are now surely approaching the time when they have to, by unspoken musical law, emerge from the chrysalis that defined their initial oeuvre, which was haunting, softly spoken synthpop crafted with the precision of a scapel knife, and move onto something bigger and perhaps broader.

Replacing the downbeat and somewhat self-obsessed (introspective is too nice on them) vision of the likes of “Last Exit” is something approaching daresay it, a pop grandeur that is as upbeat as it is sophisticated. Their musical palette has also increased, with contributions on saxophone and steel guitar from guests. If there’s one thing that remains, it’s the tendency to rely on their signature of phrasing a few select tones from the outset on many of the compositions, which gives many of their songs something of an identikit feeling, and the feeling that the mood and timbre of the album rarely flickers into the more abstract. As such, “Begone Dull Care”, which takes its inspiration from the avant-garde filmmaker Norman McLaren, has something of a polished sheen that means that it’s only occasionally that the musical direction surprises. When it does though, it’s more than a pleasant surprise. There’s a frivolity to the indiepop of “Dull to Pause” that seems out of character, and it’s arguably one of the stronger tracks on the album. The oscillating pulse of electronic Moroder-like bass carries along more recognisable songs such as “Work”, and most of the album chugs along at around 110 bpm or so. The recent single “Hazel” promises much, but peters out despite the lush vocal refrains. As it nears its close, “The Animator” emerges as its strongest piece, a strong composition that stretches out its melody rather than compressing it as is their norm. It reeks to a certain extent of the sort of slick synthpop that permeated the 80’s, but has a veneer of Kompakt-like ambience to take the glare off, aided by some sweet strings.

The Junior Boys without doubt have their eyes set on pop glory, and there are shades of their true colours coming to the fore with “Begone Dull Care”. It’s certainly full of some quirky surprises and repeated listening over a short period reaps some audial pleasure, but their attempts to break out of the trapping of their recent, glacial past gives the album the feeling of one foot in the past dragging behind them. Ultimately the omnipresent production sheen that all tracks have sugarcoats the album to such an extent that it’s difficult to pick out the highlights amongst the undoubted skill and intricacy that permeates the compositions.

Toby Frith

Comments

[Colin]

You sound like you've got very mixed feelings. As a longtime Junior Boys fan, I'm finding I'm loving this one a lot more than its predecessor. I like the fact they've restricted themselves to a mere 8 tracks and 40 or so minutes after something like two years without a release, apart from the remixes. Some reviewers clearly feel they've run out of ideas, but I love the details on this album, that wah bass and vocal sample on Bits and Pieces, etc. This is adorable music, with subtle, but deeply satisfying melodies and production.

[Bleep43]

Hi Colin,

Yes I guess it's somewhat quixotic in nature. I do have mixed feelings about it, but I think it's more of a transitional period for them. Their next album I suspect may be their flowering as it were.