Perfume Genius - No Shape

Perfume Genius
No Shape
2017
Spotify

Previous Perfume Genius albums have tried to butt heads with bigots. Mike Hadreas' central concern was taking queer culture and shoving it in your face as a way to normalize his behavior and denegrate those that would try to keep him down. This new record, his fourth, No Shape however shifts the narrative slightly and becomes more of a love letter with acceptance peppered in. This description however doesn't quite do the record justice. No Shape is form the outset bold, using Hadreas' sweet voice to lull you into a comfort zone then hitting you hard with a wave of big bold sounds. "Just Like Love" has that almost Enya quality of peace and tranquility, but then this ripping guitar heavily distorted bangs away in the background, a rage and anger lying just under the surface. You would think a record like this would be big and boisterous, but it is so understated just letting everything unfold in front of it before really engaging. The songs are really complex like "Go Ahead" which has this changing tempo and beat never fully allowing you to get your footing. It is almost like some of the more experimental stuff from the likes of Arca or Elohim, yet somehow Hadreas' vocals never allow it to slip into full experimentation. The result is interesting really different music, but music that you can actually singalong to. "Valley"  begins on this cheap guitar and Hadreas' vocal and minute by minute He brings in another element constantly elevating and constantly evolving. There are times where artists can sound to desperate and the track disjointed with this much variety, but not this album and not Perfume Genius.

Lyrically the album is so dense with quips, retorts and excited proclamations throughout. While much of his other works has been focused on the problems his community faces Hadreas seems to have found some ease as well as excitement for the future. That doesn't mean there are not still trials to be faced, oh which He is keenly aware, but there is also a time for celebration. The blending in of classical sounding music is also a triumph on No Shape. "Choir" which opens with this absolutely haunting orchestral arrangement simply soars like nothing else. The song never really engages giving it this really eerie vibe setting it apart from the rest of the album. However the next track "Die 4 You" has this sort of R&B quality and with the "4" in the title it's safe to assume Hadreas is giving a nod to the Purple one himself Prince. The later half of the record is slower than the first, gliding into an ending rather than beating you with music right up until the end. No Shape truly is a beautiful record and filled with complex ideas as well as intricate sounds. Even if you've never heard of Perfume Genius now is the time, do not allow this record to slip away.

9.0 out of 10