Post-Punk Age

Static- and feedback-fueled two-piece experimental post-punk duo No Age have released their fourth full length album, An Object, which is a perfect companion for the last hazy, far-too-hot weeks of summer. Post-punk is finally getting the gritty revival it deserves, and No Age is a fine example of one of the bands that is doing it right. Born out of the now defunct hardcore noise band Wives, members Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt have matured their chaotic sound to a much simpler, more stoic style, but old fans will still see remnants of their earlier, heavier days. With just guitar, drums, and new wave influenced, almost monotone vocals, this record is simple enough to appeal to any underground music fan while still having a unique and engaging enough sound to keep the more discriminating listener interested.

An Object opens with the somehow simultaneously bleak and upbeat, bare bones “No Ground,” which serves as a great example of what listeners can expect through the rest of the record. Later in the album No Age deviates slightly from their simple, calm, droning sound with “An Impression,” which features a beautiful string section that accompanies their haunting sound just right– an effect that other post-punk bands should take note of. An Object ends on an unnerving, eerie note with the cacophonous “Commerce, Comment, Commence,” which leaves the listener feeling slightly uneasy, but still provides a fitting conclusion to this perfectly disjointed record.

Lo fi, simplistic, noisy post-punk has become the ideal venue for many different, interesting, and talented musicians to make their mark and No Age has found themselves right at home in the genre with An Object. Fans of Dinosaur Jr, Psychic Teens and similarly fuzzy bands will love No Age, and hopefully we can expect more of the same from this group.