Boris and Ian Astbury : BXI :: Review
The Boris and Ian Astbury crossover, BXI is a combination that I never imagined coming to fruition. The pairing was suitably hyped and for good reason. It seemed like those old Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercials where some dolt was dropping his chocolate in someone else’s peanut butter and a miracle would occur. Could the former front man of The Cult and The Doors of the 21st Century find favor from a group of arty noiseniks from the East? Would Astbury’s bluster and infamous sense of self-importance derail what could be one of the more interesting releases of the year?
Thankfully, it’s either Astbury’s age or his adoration of the Japanese group that seems to keep him restrained on this release. There aren’t too many histrionics from Astbury although the packaging keeps his sense of style with the Native American motifs and wolf that adorn the packaging. To their credit, Boris plays it relatively straight on this record and in the process deliver a rock record full of monolithic riffs and thunderous drumming. You might call that heavy metal but with Astbury at the lead, consider that Boris had to create something that would be palpable and palatable.
The easily digested, “Teeth and Claws” opens the EP with a woozy and hazy guitar riff featuring Astbury calling down from the heavens like a wounded PETA representative. Yeah, it’s mystical and Astbury’s repetition of particular phrases remains, which some might cast off as too Cult-like. I figure it’s a nervous tick at this point, as Astbury always has to incorporate some vocal mannerism into all of his output. The balls to the wall “We Are Witches” fares better as it has some interesting lysergic guitar soloing by Takeshi and Wata.
“BXI” also features a ferocious update on The Cult’s “Rain,” as sung by Wata, who breathes new life into the track to which Astbury is curiously absent. Astbury returns with his corny new agey mysticism to close the EP on the mournful and dirge like “Magickal Child,” but does so with a deft touch. As much as I’ve ragged on Astbury in this review, it does seem like the man can have some class when it’s needed. The same could be said of this grouping which will continue as Ian Astbury has selected Boris to open some dates for another go-round with The Cult. Boris and Ian Astbury, two great tastes that go great together…sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Rating: 
