“I can’t seem to recollect how I felt before it began.”
Anyone who enjoys large, atmosphere-heavy soundscapes and dreamy shoegaze passages will enjoy the craft of No Sun. Hailing from Utah, it started as the solo project of guitarist and vocalist Jordon Strang, progressing into a duo, having released an EP and a debut full-length prior to this record. Thematically reflecting on the past, In The Interim explores a bridge between life before the pandemic and the present.
Opener “Saturn Returning” sends the listener into an immediate burst of sounds, abrasive feedback noises giving way to a dreamy, fuzzy soundscape, an entry that is as smooth as it is jarring. The cadence of the vocals gently carries your ears over a buzz of reverb-heavy guitars, and this is something that follows throughout the album. First single “In My Heaven” — which premiered here on the site alongside a feature piece detailing the band’s roots and goals — kicks off with distorted strums, and cruises back into the soundscapes established by the opener. The shrill accompaniments of feedback noises somehow blend into the sound and adds to the atmosphere. Tremolo led passages offer a respite from the barrage of effect-heavy guitars, and it eases back into intensity in a seamless fashion.
“Yearn” is a slower, more brooding track. It invites the listener to take on a more reflective, melancholic position as it gently progresses like a light breeze. The steady ambience is interspersed with pauses and sharp noises, but they never feel painful to the ear. The line “Can’t find the means to buy back the time. It’s a past life, or so I pretend in the end” is a haunting reminder of an existence before the pandemic. Following track “Through the Mirrored Door” contrasts by picking up on a more upbeat tempo. It ends on an outro of swirling sound effects that send you into a dream state.
Interlude “Vanishing” takes on a cleaner, more mellow approach, taking a break from the intense instrumentals and floaty vocals to bring a track that is reminiscent of the soundscapes built by post-rock giants This Will Destroy You, a band that I wouldn’t be surprised to find out is an influence on this album. This leads into second single “Near To Me”, which continues on the calmer journey started. The tasteful tremolos return to lift the listener into an ethereal experience, paired with more defined, clean guitar sections and a punchy bass. It culminates in a groovy breakdown which ups the intensity of the album, ending in a gradual, noisy slowdown. “Life Beneath” picks up where “Near To Me” left off, led by a tasteful groove by drummer Jake Morse. This track appears to have more of a vocal focus, as they sound clearer in the mix than previous tracks.
The album ends with its longest track, “Into The Light”. It takes its time, building layers on each section of the song and building in loudness. It peaks in a satisfying manner while keeping the slower tempo, a gentle release. Although lyrics aren’t a big priority personally in this style of music, the poetic words accompanying each song are worth a shout. The chorus of the closer sings, “I can’t seem to recollect, how I felt before it began. Far too vast to circumvent, the true cost of my hesitance. Under the weight.”
At a first glance, you might brush In The Interim aside as just another newcomer to the increasingly popular post-rock scene. While the eight tracks are undeniably similar in a sonic sense, that is hardly a detriment to the album. This is one that requires multiple listens to fully digest and appreciate the subtle nuances each track presents. Each individual track elicits a different emotional response, and every little sound effect feels purposeful. The songs are crafted as an impactful wall of sound that operates as one unit, although they very much work as individual pieces. While the album could have benefitted from some slight variations, perhaps in the vocal intensity or switch-ups in the instrumentals, these are not factors that detract from the experience. This is an impressive effort from a band you should keep an eye on as they continue to evolve.
In The Interim will be released on Friday, September 30th, via Church Road Records/Flesh and Bone Records, and you can pre-order the album here.
8/10