NO JOY with HSY and BELIEFS at the Garrison (1197 Dundas West), Friday (December 6), 9 pm. $10.50. RT, SS, TW.
One of the standout aspects of Montreal dream pop band No Joy’s recent Pastel And Pass Out EP (Mexican Summer) is the surprisingly funky rhythmic undercurrent of the first song, Last Boss. That upbeat energy expresses itself in other ways throughout the record, suggesting the band might be in the process of shifting their sound from the hazy shoegaze that initially won them praise.
“I’m not sure if it’s a good indication of where we’re going next, because we haven’t really thought about it,” guitarist Laura Lloyd says from the tail end of their European tour.
“We were offered a weekend in the studio, we recorded [debut 2013 full-length] Wait To Pleasure, and we wrote the three songs [on Pastel] there. I view EPs as an experimentation phase for bands – a time to try out new ideas and play around. Whether we stick to it or not is impossible to say.”
While the exact direction of their next full-length remains unknown, it’s safe to say they are still interested in finding new ways to update the soft vocals, loud guitars formula. Unlike so many other bands heavily influenced by My Bloody Valentine, No Joy have never totally embraced the gentle and sleepy side of that model. Even when the guitars become a formless wall of noise, the pummelling drums maintain a sense of urgency.
“It’s important to note that shoegaze isn’t our defining inspiration. We were recently talking to someone about how it’s important to have song and structure before venturing into noise and chaos, because without those elements your noise would have no purpose,” says Lloyd.
“That being said, we’ve all grown up listening to punk and alternative music, where fast-paced songs are common, and I’ve always been drawn to that kind of energy – like Hüsker Dü would do,” she continues, referencing the American formerly hardcore punk band.
“Though – having just watched the [drummer] Grant Hart documentary – he might resent me for saying that.”
benjaminb@nowtoronto.com | @benjaminboles
