Album #295: Nothing – The Great Dismal

• Released: 2020
• Origin: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
• Label: Relapse
• Best Track: April Ha Ha

The shoegaze revival has seen a number of fairly new kids on the block become raved about by aficionados new and old. Probably at the apex of these are DIIV, a band I like a lot. One or two others are Whirr, who I would have a lot more time for if they weren’t such jerks, and Ringo Deathstarr, who I’ve never really taken to.

Also among this “nu-gaze” elite are Nothing, who ironically have done nothing for me until now. Their 2016 album Tired of Tomorrow is lauded as a modern classic of the genre in some circles, but I’m afraid it’s lost on me. I’d go as far as to say I dislike it.

However, their fourth album, The Great Dismal came out today, and I’d say it’s the best material I’ve heard from the band. Even though it’s probably a little more simple and formulaic than their previous work, I think it works all the better for it.

The powerful swirl of ‘April Ha Ha’ makes for a great track for a start, and the glacial atmosphere of ‘Blue Mecca’ makes it a song you feel as well as hear. Nothing still don’t thrill me, but I can certainly put this record on and enjoy it.