Whenever we receive submissions from Canada, I listen more carefully as I have been a long-time admirer of the music scene from this lovely country which I love but never visited. These indie folk rockers from Hamilton, Ontario consist of “lead singer, songwriter and guitarist Helena Alexandria [who] shares a deep love of vibrant stories with her bandmates, Basement Revolver’s guitarist turned bassist Jonathan Malstrom and drummer Will Fachin.” The band “offers up a range that spans conversational folk ballads to heavy and sludgy alt-rock belters, safeguarding vulnerable lyrics behind sometimes crushing, always emotive noise.” At each song is filled with “Alexandria’s personal storytelling and distinctive voice ringing true.”
The press release for this album was filled with gems and I decided to share this beautiful track-by-track analysis of all songs:
01 . so do i
One of the earlier songs completed for the record, Jonathan wrote and recorded this one entirely on his own. An intimate melody and orchestral finish round out the first-taste of the record, concluding with twangy guitars and a short-but-riveting expansive feeling.
02 . JUNE
The first song No Beauty started working on as a band, transforming it from Helena’s solo songwriting project to a different beast altogether. Danceable and fiery, a memory of drudging love is obliterated and replaced by a present-moment careen into summer skies and freeing affections.
03 . Hourglass
Written in response to being reminded of the way she used to be upon getting to know somebody else, this song is a defiant defence of the change and growth one experiences after escaping situations that could be viewed as lost or wasted time trying to make things fit. A person can be a portal back in time.
04 . Pharmacy
Waiting for her turn at an open mic in the summer of 2022, Helena hated everything she had to offer. She had about an hour to come up with something new. Out came Pharmacy, exactly as it sounds in this recording; an ode to the way love and addictions both have a way of blinding us to pain.
05 . Alexandria Ottoline Endellion
A crushing, wild scream into the face of womanhood and the inherited prejudices that come with it. Written originally to be much longer and folk-oriented, the song evolved into the band’s heaviest, head-nodding cut, lyrics winding a narrative that explores the symbols of historical and modern-day femininity.
06 . taking off my clothes
Vulnerability and envy dance slow under a current of simmering exasperation in the moody and experimental sixth track. Based partially on an imagined accidental run-in with her past self, Alexandria forfeits all pretence by the end of this track, considering the ambitions and sacrifices a younger version of her has made.
07 . You Died
A re-recording of Malstrom and Alexandria’s first official collaboration as songwriters. Functioning as obituary for the difficult feelings expressed on the record, You Died uplifts, conquers, and lilts through pretty melodies toward a brighter, freer imagining of the road ahead.
08 . Black Dog Shadow
The oldest recording in the collection, Alexandria is solo here, a ghostly murmur from 2022. One of her earliest songs acts as an ending vignette to the first chapter of No Beauty. There is something unnamable that lives in Black Dog Shadow; a haunted feeling soothed to sleep by the final chord, at last able to lie peacefully.
I could just hit enter and publish this post as these words do not need any more jibberish rambling from my side, but I feel compelled to give this album the praise it deserves. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve listened to it, and every time I struggle to find the right words to convey its brilliance. The band’s decision to share the stories behind each track adds a whole new layer of depth to the experience. This album is a captivating fusion of indie rock, alt-country, and folk-rock songs, each enveloped in beautiful melodies and mesmerizing vocals that draw you into their enchanting narratives. When I listen to this music, I can almost visualize myself wandering through the unspoiled wilderness of Canada, with the music painting the scenery with every note. The natural sounds of trees, birds, and wind seem to blend seamlessly with the music, creating a captivating symphony of the wild. Getting lost in these songs is a blissful experience, free from any worries. No Beauty has truly crafted a masterpiece, and I reveled in the journey of discovery from the first track to the last. It was an enchanting and delightful experience that left a lasting impression.
The album is mixture of indie, alt-country, folk songs with so much beautiful melodies and mesmerizing vocals that would pull you in their storytelling. I can imagine myself wandering the wild forest of Canada and having this music in my ears and just feel the fresh smell of trees, bird chirping, wind creating a beautiful sounds of moving forest. I would get lost and not be worried. I got lost while listening to these song and was not worried. No Beauty created a masterpiece and I enjoyed discovering it from the beginning to the end. What a lovely experience this was.
Written by Filip Zemcik
