Review: Cloud Nothings--Attack on Memory, Wichita Records

From the other side of the pond comes Attack on Memory, the third album from Cleveland, Ohio’s Cloud Nothings (it’s a Rock N’ Roll city). This instalment sees singer-songwriter-founder Dylan Baldi split session duties with other members of the band. Another important item of buzz around the record is the fact that the band decamped to Steve Albini’s (Big Black/Rapeman/ Shellac) Electrical Audio studio in Chicago to record. The result is a hot album that puts the lie to reports of Rock’s demise.

The first track, “No Future/ No Past,” begins with a plaintive piano. The song has an interesting structure of extended build up that sits well with its slightly depressing failed relationship subject until the concluding outpouring. The drums sound excellently recorded throughout the album. Airy and transient throughout, they leap out at the listener with force. The refrain of “No future and no past” underlines the emphasis on the (tortured) present at the expense of the past and the future, a theme the album returns to with a fairly consistent air of striving.

“Wasted Days” continues to showcase Baldi’s writing chops. Notably poppier, it all hangs on the chorus of “I thought/ I would/ Be more/ Than this.” With unities of instruments and purposes it goes like a train. The buzzsaw rhythm guitar replete with Fender twang is an album fixture that complements the drums and bass groove in propelling the music forward. The interlude in this track is well judged and evidence of a willingness to abandon conventional structure to make a bolder statement.

The bass work is a very pleasing detail on the album, at times vying for leadership with the vocal like Bill Wyman on “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” There is no bad track but the concluding track “Cut You” fading out feels like evidence of a faltering conviction. The power–instrumental “Separation” cannot be overlooked. This album really excited me and leaves its predecessor in the dust but just as it’s the right record at the right time, it’s difficult to know how it will wear. To be enjoyed at full length.

Picks: “No Future/ No Past,” “Wasted Days,” “Stay Useless,” “Separation,” “Our Plans.”

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