by Ian MacPhee (@i_macphee)
On the latest release from No Age, Goons Be Gone, the band seems to have ventured further into the auditory unknown while staying true to their trademark sound. No Age is the creative brainchild of drummer Dean Allen Spunt and guitarist Randy Randall, and the duo has been relentlessly touring and releasing music since 2006. Released on Drag City Records, the songs breathe a new energy, one that feels focused and poignant, yet impossible to pin down.
Goons Be Gone begins with “Sandalwood,” setting the stage with feedback-laden garage rock. After this comes “Feeler,” where intricate guitar work weaves between hypnotic drums and vocals. No Age’s talent and experience shine through their deceptively simple songwriting. Groups like The Velvet Underground or Husker Du come to mind, yet still the duo manages to feel entirely unique.
No Age has always leaned towards the avant-garde, and this inclination manifests in ways both subtle and overt. Swirling ambience is used to bridge the gap between songs, creating seamless transitions. “Toes In The Water,” an instrumental mid-album interlude, is composed of an off-kilter loop and walls of fuzz. While it fits perfectly within the context of the album, it could easily be a lost song from sonic pioneers like Phil Elverum or Kevin Shields, and showcases the experimental nature of the group.
While musically complex, each song also has a unique visual accompaniment when streamed on a service like Spotify. Grainy, looping videos complement the audio, offering a fully immersive experience when wearing headphones and watching late at night.
Combining melodic simplicity with droning krautrock, this latest release proves that after sixteen years, No Age still has what it takes to sound new. Goons Be Gone is an instantly catchy album, yet is musically dense, and offers more to be discovered upon each listen.