Boan

Boan

In the age of bedroom synth albums, the art of electronic minimalism has worn thin. Those once entranced by looped electro quirk and garbled vox now expect magic formulas, taking some of the mystery out of it along the way. Austin duo Boan takes another whack at that formula – and pulls it off. Mentiras ("lies"), the five-song debut from José Cota (Ssleeperhold) and Mari ana Saldana (formerly of //Tense//), rediscovers beauty in the repetition of persistent beats. "Babylon" eases into the vinyl EP, tangling two electronic licks over each other while Saldana's sing-song commentary gently guides the track. "Freaksnake" sounds almost as if it could be a remix of its predecessor, beat loops charming to a lull. The title track comforts somehow with a stark electro freak show that's equally danceable and numbing. That atmospheric dirge to "Mentiras" channels the darker side of Tears for Fears, crunching where the other tracks wouldn't. Definitely something bigger here, so prepare to lose yourself.