Boreas - Hymns and Lies (Vicious Vibrations) The introduction to Hymns and Lies, “Mexican Magical Realism” with it’s muffled, spoken delivery (sounding remarkably like Neil Young), mandolin intermission and fuzzed rock out, would hasten comparisons to Crazy Horse, but does not set a standard for what pursues. The vocals gain a certain clarity and enunciation, and its this tempered delivery that remains throughout the rest of the CD, but set to shifting backdrops: “Rain” with it’s subtle glockenspiel, the pounding drums of “Pretty Mouth and Green Eyes”, the found sound montage of “The Sport of Birds”, the folk balladry of “Hymns and Lies” and the funereal jazz (akin to “Swordfishtrombones” era Tom Waits). No matter the musical landscape, there’s an ever lurking guitarist that, when no one’s looking, steps on as many pedals as can be found and blasts away until the shackles can be refitted. The uplifting piano and ELO-like harmonies of “Kite String Priestess” aside, with songs of death and decay, ”Hymns and Lies’” tone is that of the bleakest road movie. Musical, experimental, beauty and the beast. www.myspace.com/boreas Next