Following on from their recent single, The Boo Radleys are back with a full four-song EP. That these pioneers of both shoegaze and Britpop have returned is admittedly a surprise, but it's a pleasant one. I mean, there was always something oddly soothing about the music of the Boos, no matter how much feedback was hanging around the grooves. And while this A Full Syringe and Memories of You EP does not feature original member Martin Carr, the release stands on its own and earns being called a Boo Radleys release.
The recent single kicks things off before the elegant "See It Through" hits its stride. This one is a ballad, and it's a stately one, with Sice's vocals anchoring this to a real emotional space. Elsewhere, "Life is Getting Better" rides a faintly baggy hook to success. This one mixes elements of dance and chamber pop, but it's Sice's vocals which tether this one to a vibe that feels like the Boos we've been in love with for decades. A Full Syringe and Memories of You closes with "I'll Put the Bars Around My Heart", a superb near-march that seems similar to lots of the gems on side 2 of the last, criminally-underrated Boos album proper, Kingsize, back in 1998.
All of what's here makes it clear that there's power left in the arsenal of The Boo Radleys. Without Martin Carr, there's something missing, yes, but there's still a beauty and magic here that warms my heart, enough that this feels like the Boos to me, for the most part. I think anyone who's even a casual fan of this band would be wise to seek out this new EP, and hope that the Boos don't take another 23 years to release more new music.
The A Full Syringe and Memories of You EP is out tomorrow on various platforms.
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[Photo: Perspective Communications]