This Is Lorelei: Holo Boy

"Holo Boy 's languid, swaggering reinterpretations bring a new confidence to the humorous self-effacement that's endemic to the Lorelei universe, even suggesting Amos' compassion for the person he was at the time he originally recorded them. On the original "I Can't Fall," quavering strings and breathy falsetto imbue a jaunty melody with unshakeable anxiety; on this re-recording, though, Amos croons in his lower register, and the orchestral swell, richer than ever, pulls the Beach Boys lever."

"Fuller guitars and clearer vocals on "Dreams Away" bring vital force to a song that previously conveyed mostly resignation: Singing "I've been sleeping all my life/And now I gotta wake up," he sounds actually excited about the prospect. Some tracks don't get as drastic a makeover. "SF & GG" and "Money Right Now," both originally from a 2021 single, benefit from a couple instrumental flourishes that reveal more twinkle behind the eyes, but they sound fuzz-shorn rather than wholly revamped."

Holo Boy re-records earlier tracks with fuller instrumentation and adjusted vocal delivery. Languid, swaggering reinterpretations add confidence and suggest compassion toward past selves. Songs that once featured breathy falsetto and quavering strings gain deeper register singing and richer orchestral swells. Fuller guitars and clearer vocals energize tracks that previously conveyed resignation. Some songs receive only subtle instrumental flourishes, retaining a fuzzed, less-revamped character. One track's distorted, atonal original charm loses impact when cleaned up. Where bolder stylistic choices occur, boosted bass, layered guitars, and foregrounded voice create head-bopping immediacy and genuine vulnerability. Emphasis on reinterpretation yields a moving, restrained record.

Read at Pitchfork