| Urban Dance | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Studio album by Boris | ||
| Released | 2 May 2015 | |
| Recorded | 2015 at Sound Square in Tokyo, Japan | |
| Genre | Drone, Noise, Heavy Rock, Experimental | |
| Length | 42:02 | |
| Label | Fangs Anal Satan | |
| Producer | Boris | |
| Boris chronology | ||
| Noise (2014) |
Urban Dance (2015) |
Asia (2015) |
Urban Dance is a studio album by the Japanese experimental band Boris. It was first announced via the band's Facebook page on 30 April,[1] along with simultaneous releases of Asia and Warpath as part of the New Noise Literacy series.[2] They were first available on tour with Endon, making their release date May 2.[3]
Of the three simultaneous releases, it is the only one bearing resemblance to rock-based music, with "Surrender" in particular recalling 2014's Noise. Beyond its use of soaring vocals – their only appearance on any of the three albums – the song, as well as "Endless," features pronounced post-rock influence. These are also the only two songs to feature drums. The rest of the material on the album fits the noise, experimental and drone facets expanded on in Asia and Warpath. Its combination of more traditional rock songs and drone pieces makes it similar in structure to The Thing Which Solomon Overlooked Extra, a complimentary fourth album to the drone/experimental trilogy of albums. Notably "un, deux, trois" is French for "one, two, three".
The cover art posted by the band is inaccurate to the physical product, which features a young Japanese girl dressed as a ballerina.[4] Ultimately, Urban Dance was limited to 1000 CD copies and only sold as shows and via Inoxia Records.
Because of the release's niche nature, reviews of Urban Dance are scarce and mixed. Only Solitaire would write a scathing review of the release and give it a thumbs down,[5] while Sputnik Music would give a 4.0 score and cite it as an underrated work, stating "as far as the unapologetically ‘difficult’ side of Boris goes, this is a real highlight; its attraction as such will vary dramatically from listener to listener. If your comfort zone with this band is inseparable from their relationship with guitar music, then all’s fair and fine; Urban Dance represents a tiny region of whatever appeal can be consistently transferred from Boris album to Boris album. However, it makes for a immersive and rewarding listen within its chosen styles and may well catch anyone susceptible off guard.".[6] Doodlehound, writing a ranked list and briefly reviewing the album, would note the variety but felt that better experimental works have come from the band both before and after this release.[7]
Tracklist[]
- 1. un, deux, trois (4:30)
- 2. Surrender (7:45)
- 3. Choreographer (8:46)
- 4. Endless (9:43)
- 5. Game of Death (11:18)
Personnel[]
- Wata - Guitar, Echo
- Takeshi - Guitar, Bass, Vocals
- Atsuo - Drums, Electronics
- Fangs Anal Satan - Engineer, Mixing, Photography, Design
- Souichirou Nakamura - Mastering