Available on: Sexbeat / Mexican Summer 7″

The seventh release on fledgling London label Sexbeat (with Stateside release from Mexican Summer) comes courtesy of Laura Lloyd and Jasamine White-Gluz, a.k.a No Joy. Residing physically in Montreal and LA respectively, it’s clear their hearts lie firmly in California circa 1986. Both tracks on offer here could have come straight from the vaults of iconic Long Beach label SST, with perhaps a quick detour via the proto-grunge of early Sub Pop.

‘No Summer’ is abrasive yet melodic, with churning guitars providing a bed of broken glass on which the singer’s dreamy vocals manage to nestle seductively. Evoking the spectres of late ’80s shoegaze as well as Daydream Nation-era Sonic Youth, it flirts between blunted bliss and moments that would be almost anthemic if the vocals were allowed to take centre stage rather than hovering anonymously over the track.

‘No Joy’ is, as the title suggests, a moodier affair. Grinding, distorted riffs occasionally give way to clean, confident chords while the vocals remain almost completely submerged throughout. It’s the contrast between the raw, extrovert instrumentation and the detached contemplation of the female vocalist that make both these songs work. We’re listening to a group in love with the sound of guitars rather than their own voices, and while neither track makes much attempt to break new ground, that hardly seems to be the point.

James Waldron