Changing Gears

For fans of Boxed In, his latest album, Melt, does everything right. Producer Oli Bayston has kept the pop grooviness present in his previous work and added dancey electronica to the mix. This creates a synthesized dream pop sound that will make listeners feel a need to move with the music. The album as a whole is diverse, too, with each track possessing its own unique character. Melt is like its own complete mix tape—just add friends and hit play.

Since every track on the album features its own tantalizing sound, it makes it hard to pick out only a few standouts. “Melt,” the album’s’ title song, leads off with a percussion line that gives off a rustic, worldly feel that stays compelling across a multitude of plays. “Forget” is also a standout, as it plays to the electronic dance side of this album. Both of these tracks are great examples of Bayston’s ear for the addicting. He produces tones in these tracks that are practically craved by the soul. To add to this, the songs on the album all carry a playful and bubbly sound that becomes emotionally uplifting, with a playfulness that keeps the listener intrigued.

Nothing in this world is perfect, though we may strive to be. Some tracks dial back the upbeat grooviness and feature a low key, slower mix. Even though these tracks stand alone perfectly, when they are set up against the rest of the album they fall to the background. “London Lights” is one of these tracks but Bayston has highlighted these slower songs with tasty melodies. While in the background, these songs (once the initial excitement of the standouts has faded) reveal themselves as the hidden treasures of Melt. “Black Prism” is another track carrying this understated beauty, beginning with piano and transforming nito a gorgeous synthetic melody. Across the album Bayston creates a background that has has something to offer.

Melt is a change in gears for Boxed In. By adding an electronica influence, Bayston has created an addicting album that plays to the listener’s inner child, driving them to dance and move to the tones emitted from the speakers. Residing somewhere between The 2 Bears and Com Truise, Melt is a home run for Bayston with so many fantastic tracks. We can only hope Bayston dives head first in this direction, and hopefully goes on tour in the Unites States soon.