Dylan Baldi’s proto-emo outfit Cloud Nothings underwent a radical shift on 2012’s ‘Attack on Memory’, recruiting Steve Albini to helm their love letter to Braid, Jawbreaker and the Jade Tree back-catalogue. Ever since, Baldi’s rough howl and the group’s raw, no-bullshit production have been the heart of their sound, making them major players in the early-emo revival and even the reunions of some of the bands they’ve emulated. This year’s ‘Life Without Sound’, though, turns the wheel again; although the riffs and the bruised melodies are still there, the band ease off the throttle, allowing some light in – as well as some slow-burning hooks that’ll make you miss Static-era Jimmy Eat World. Cloud Nothings aren’t all homage though; their complexity and vibrancy stands on its own merits, and their relentless tour schedule has honed them into a tightly brutal unit – particularly in their propulsive drummer Jayson Gerycz. Things may keep changing for the band, but one thing stays the same – their dedication to earnest vulnerability.
Wed 22 Mar 7pm at at Hare and Hounds, High Street, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JZ £10. seetickets.com
Words: Chris Donald - Gigs Editor
Published on: Wed 1 Mar 2017