Since their beginnings in 2005, No Age have attracted significant praise for their lo-fi, noise-punk sounds.
On their third LP, An Object, members Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt take the style to a new level, stripping back the arrangements even further and physically involving themselves in the manufacturing and packaging of the album.
After the well-produced Nouns and Everything In Between, upbeat tracks like ‘C’mon, Stimmung’ and ‘Lock Box’ confirm that An Object is a more abrasive affair.
These tracks capture the original spirit of punk music, boasting furiously fuzzy guitar riffs, Ramones-esque vocals and reckless production – all without getting bogged down in revivalism.
Amid this chaotic scuzziness however, An Object is also home to a few surprisingly beautiful tracks.
From the dreamlike, aqueous aura of “An Impression” to the industrial symphony lurking below “A Ceiling Dreams Of A Floor”, these mid-tempo numbers are some of the most memorable on An Object.
Unfortunately this contrasting combination doesn’t always fare well.
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Due to forgettable lyrics and a distinct lack of vocal melodies and rhythmic variation, An Object – in spite of its brevity – becomes a sluggish and tedious affair during its second half.
For the most part, the album a step in the right direction for No Age, emphasising their dexterity with both roaring noise and secretive bliss.
Yet An Object ultimately fails to engage, falling victim to a surfeit of droning vocals and indistinguishable melodies.
