The chorus of My Boy’s eponymous opening track is easy enough to remember: it goes, “toudoudou toudou toudou hou hou hou”. It’s super sweet and says a lot about Marlon Williams’ musical objectives and metamorphosis. Until now, the New Zealander who emerged in 2015 tended to play country-pop and American-style folk-rock, embodying the ancient myth of the lonely western crooner singing against a backdrop of a glowing sunset. On this third album, Marlon Williams closes the distance between himself and the modern world, with its city lights, bars and places where people like to dance and have fun. Marlon Williams, who has now added ‘actor’ to his list of occupations, takes on the role of a pop singer in My Boy. And he plays it well. His lustful voice glides over sophisticated, gentle melodies which can be downright dramatic (‘Promises’). His songs feature drum machines, acoustic guitars, backing vocals, synths and a lot of the little details that make a great pop song. On occasion, they can even be reminiscent of the blue-eyed English soul of the 80s. Melodic and packed with vital vitamins, this album is a cocktail best enjoyed whilst lounging on the beach in the sunshine. Some of these songs have all the ingredients that make a hit, but they’re still feel-good tunes. Marlon Williams has changed his musical style, but not his approach to music. He’s still undeniably an aesthete. © Stéphane Deschamps/Qobuz