My Boy＜限定盤/Lemon Yellow Vinyl＞

Kiwi crooner Marlon Williams achieved breakout success with 2018s Make Way for Love, a soulful retro-pop opus that topped New Zealands pop charts and sent him on a world tour that lasted for much of that year. A cinematic breakup album that earned heaps of critical attention, it was a tough act to follow and over the next few years he managed to avoid doing so by embarking on a series of collaborations -- most notably 2020s Plastic Bouquet, a joint album with Canadian duo Kacy & Clayton -- and focusing on his burgeoning acting career. His silky voice and knack for lovelorn balladry would be easy assets to coast on, but Williams has proven himself to be something of an explorer and on 2022s My Boy, he shakes up the formula once again. Eschewing his usual backing band the Yarra Benders, Williams worked at Neil Finns Roundhead Studios with producer Tom Healy and a less-familiar crew of players who helped nudge him down a new path. Gone is the myopic midnight melancholia, replaced here by a sense of buoyancy, community, and outright playfulness. From the breezy refrains of the title track to the wonky Polynesian pop of "Easy Does It," Williams sets a casual tone that is heightened by glowing synth-driven pop standouts like "River Rival" and "Thinking of Nina." While he hasnt completely dispensed with pop crooning, songs like the majestic "Princes Walk" and "Soft Boys Make the Grade" largely avoid retro nods, combining instead myriad sonic details that could exist in any era. Other highlights include the sleek dance pop of "Dont Go Back" and the undeniably charming country-psych romp "Morning Crystals." On the whole, Williams sound engaged, energized, and curious, a winning combo that makes for an appealing listen. ~ Timothy Monger