Always Hungry. Soft Boy

Label owner Niels Hendrix wrote me that after hearing the first notes of the demo by Soft Boy he knew he wanted to release the band's album. If he heard the same first notes of the first song on Always Hungry I am hearing, I'm sure a deaf person would have wanted to release it. The title song is a joy to listen to. It is so full of life, exuberance and enthusiasm. 'Always Hungry' simply bounces out of my speakers. Just this song makes buying Always Hungry worth your while.

Fans of a good alternative pop song and indie rock will find a lot to like on Soft Boy's debut album, as a band. You will find Britpop mixed with a The Doors Farfisa organ in songs that are deliciously free flowing. Soft Boy blends eras in music effortlessly, all the time showing the fun it has to present these songs in the best way it can.

Soft Boy started as the bedroom project of  Xander Hamelton, from Ghent in Belgium. He released two mini albums in this decade, 'This Took A Long Time' and 'This Took An Even Longer Time',that can be found for "name your price" on Bandcamp. Label Fons Records releases the first full length album of the band Soft Boy, with also Stan Antheunis (backing vocals guitar), Marian Coppieters (backing vocals, keys, violin), Jasper Suys (bass), Simon Dewaele (drums) on board. In single 'Gen Z', marking the band's debut on this blog, the full impact of the band is heard for 100%. The tempo is down, the individual instruments come forward in a great way. The mood is more downcast, somewhat like EELS can play its songs. But then listen to how the keyboard comes in, lifting the song up and taking the others along for a short burst of positive energy. Do not forget to notice the extra harmony vocals.

Soft Boy can rock too. 'Speak From The Heart' really goes for the underbelly of the rock fan. Fuzzed guitar, an effect on the voice, while the rest rocks out. And then that Farfisa organ comes in again, throwing a 60s vibe over it all. The same goes for the vocals in the chorus. Man, somehow it reminds me of The Tremeloes' 'Even The Bad Times Are Good'. And that while the music couldn't be more apart.

By then it's not hard to conclude that Soft Boy is not caught in one niche genre. It wants to be out there in several niches and in a successful way. Each and every song is attractive in its own way. Even when it moves into a reggae rhythm in 'St. Eve', to move into another direction within the song and come back to where it started.

Always Hungry offers something for every ear, I'm prone to write. This can be a weakness, as something for everyone can equal nothing for no one. Soft Boy does not fall into the trap. The obvious quality of nearly all of the ten songs, guarantee a fun time can be had by all. In my case, the band scores big time. Just listen towards the end of the album to 'Willow', an acoustic song. Listen to how it unfolds. Listen to the harmony vocals. I do not need to write more.

The bio self-assuredly announced that the potential reviewers could contemplate scoring the album 4 or 5 stars. It seems like Fons Records was not boasting. Soft Boy has made an impression alright. One of the better releases of 2024 for sure.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order the releases of Fons Records here:

https://fonsrecords.bandcamp.com/