Review by 曾 聖榮
Boni Potpourri by Boni Boventoon Blazers: A Quirky Folk Gem from 1987
Alright, let’s dive into this wild little ride called Boni Potpourri. Released in ‘87 by the Dutch crew Boni Boventoon Blazers, this album is like a musical picnic where folk, world, and country vibes all hang out together. It’s got that cozy, rustic charm but with enough weird twists to keep you guessing. And hey, it’s not every day you stumble upon an LP on Clavigram Records—shoutout to niche labels keeping things interesting!
Now, I gotta talk about the title track, “Boni Potpourri.” Man, this thing hits differently. Imagine someone decided to mash up a village festival, a jam session in someone’s barn, and maybe a touch of tropical vacation fever. That’s what you get here. The melody dances around like nobody told it there were rules. There’s flutes doing their own thing, guitars strumming lazily, and percussion that feels like your neighbor just grabbed whatever was lying around. Honestly? It sticks because it doesn’t try too hard. You can almost picture these guys recording it after sharing a plate of stroopwafels and laughing way too much.
Then there’s “Copacabana,” which takes the vibe somewhere unexpected. If the first track feels like a Dutch countryside shindig, this one teleports you straight to Rio—or at least some Eurovision-style fantasy version of Brazil. The rhythm has this samba-ish bounce, but filtered through a very European lens. Like, imagine if ABBA tried to write a carnival anthem while wearing clogs. Weird combo? Absolutely. But somehow, it works. This tune worms its way into your brain, and before you know it, you’re humming along while pretending your broomstick is a microphone.
What makes Boni Potpourri memorable isn’t perfection—it’s personality. These songs aren’t polished gems; they’re more like handmade crafts, rough edges and all. They remind me of those random mixtapes people used to burn for each other back in the day, full of oddball choices that somehow clicked.
Reflecting on this album, I can’t help but think how refreshing it is to find something so unapologetically itself. In today’s algorithm-driven music scene, albums like this feel like finding a hidden treasure chest buried under layers of sand. So yeah, give it a spin if you’re into quirky sounds that don’t take themselves too seriously. Just don’t blame me if you suddenly start craving Dutch pancakes mid-listen.
