No Age is the post-modern cacophony formed by guitarist Randy Randall and drummer/vocalist Dean Spunt. Former members of hardcore outfit Wives, the pair now hone their penchant for noise making into a compelling and confusing album. Nouns, the first full-length release for the duo via Sub Pop, is a scattered and often incomprehensible mess. So why does it sound so natural? In between distorted soundscapes and shoe gazer reverb, Spunt and Randall hold out pieces of energetic and dynamic songs. Nouns opens with “Miner” and drudging guitars comes to life as drums pound in the background like garbage cans. Lo-fi does not begin to describe. Spunt pounds with what may be table legs and Randall’s guitar slides and screams in tune with the distant lyrics of “I want you choosing me, I feel a common breeze.” The song ends less than two minutes in and is replaced now by a charming almost pop induced riff. Spunt sounds like Joey Ramone hurtling lyrics as fast and fat as they can come out. The entire space of the music is consumed, crowded in samples, layers of fuzz, a wave cresting to overtake. Eventually it does. “Teen Creeps” is almost radio friendly while still drowning in distortion. The instrumental “Keechie” unfolds in slow motion, a flower blooming, overtaken by the roar and screech of “Sleeper Hold.” The entire album moves and shifts this way, never settling on or even searching for a singular sound. Underneath all the dirt and fog that surrounds No Age, there is very solid song writing. Nouns is brooding and exuberant at just the right moments, keeping a sense of anticipation even after the album ends.
– Charlie Swanson
No Age: www.noagela.blogspot.com
Sub Pop: www.subpop.com