Boy 40 [Andy White]
BOY 40 [Andy White] This is really nice. Andy White serves up 15 thoughtful and well-crafted songs on Boy 40, the best of which sneak into your synapses and win you over with their simple enthusiasm. Based in Melbourne but born in Ireland (where he’s been awarded for his songwriting talents), White writes about his own experiences but places them against a topical backdrop of terrorism, war and the world going to hell in a handbag. But his tone is optimistic rather than bleak: his world is one in which the sun still shines and people still fall in love. The songs are driven by acoustic guitar and White’s rather lovely singing voice. Think Billy Bragg meets Frente and you’re part of the way there. Standout tracks: the buoyant pop sensibility of the opening cut (and first single) Tell Me Why , and the heartfelt ballad The Fortune Teller’s Right. Boy 40 doesn’t exactly lend itself to rocking out, but it’s been a while since a new pop release has sounded quite so sweet. Reviewed David Mills
