No Joy

By Nic Sanderson

I’m generally hesitant to describe someone as shoegaze or dream pop, because both terms are pretty vague, and an argument could be made for or against their applicability in a lot of cases. However, No Joy is not one of those cases. Their hazey psychedelia is realized in swirling, powerful expression on their 2010 debut “Ghost Blonde”and greater melodic transparency on their 2013 follow-up “Wait to Pleasure”.

On “More Faithful”, released June 9, No Joy’s structures are even clearer still, with atmospheric qualities built from melodic layering as well as a dense tone. Starkly syncopated drum parts cut through the barrage of distorted guitars to push or pull a song in differing directions. I’ll admit, I still usually can’t tell what vocalist Jasamine White-Gluz’s lyrics are, but this merely adds to the mysticism of No Joy’s sound, and as many great works of art, leads the listener to form their own interpretations.