Album Review: No Joy - Wait To Pleasure

It's obvious from the outset that Wait For Pleasure is not exactly going to provide any new answers for already-made fans of noise-pop outfit, No Joy. Nevertheless, the band's sophomore release does contain a set of catchy and well-produced tunes. Wait To Pleasure saw No Joy let loose in Mexican Summer's studio, Gary's Electric, last year – the group's first foray in a fully-furnished studio environment. The end product sees the Montreal-based group sporting a sound that is stronger and generally much more composed than their previous effort, Ghost Blonde.

While Ghost Blonde was sticky, immersive and overwhelming, Wait For Pleasure composes of 11 11 distinct, tactile sensations that seem totally opposed yet placed consecutively. Jasamine White-Gluz's vocals are certainly what stand out amongst the group's many sounds. While most of what she sings is done so in whisper, the power of her voice is such that it resonates, seeping through you like smoke. Opener E slowly boils over after five minutes of glam rock stomp, while Hare Tarot Lies, has this way of painting landscapes filled with mist and grey, feeling lazily soothing all the while. By contrast, Lizard Kids' follows a breakneck pace and holds an aggressive approach instrumentally, with a fierce bassline and loud, droney guitar-tones. Uhy Yuoi Yoi is a fitting album closer, a mysterious piece of work that ends with a single drum beat and leaves the door entirely open for more material from No Joy which, if the improvement of this one is anything to go by, should continue to grow from strength to strength.