Regular readers will remember I came away from Bugland thinking No Joy had reached one of those rare points where the music could go almost anywhere. Jasamine White Gluz stretched the No Joy sound into stranger places on that record without losing the melodic edge that first drew so many of us in. It was a perfect balance of shoegaze, electronica and pop. Who knew she had more of that secret blend up her sleeve.
New single and title track of her new EP ‘Big Life, Big Leaf’ feels like a welcome next step. Released via Sonic Cathedral, the single brings Jasamine back together with Jorge Elbrecht, who has been part of the No Joy story before, and Angel Marcloid, also known as Fire Toolz, who produced Bugland. Speaking about the feeling behind the track, White Gluz says,
“I was exploring the boundless pain one feels when it is time to say goodbye to someone or something. To mourn is also to celebrate.”
That last line sits right at the heart of the EP. Let’s give the title track a spin.
‘Big Life, Big Leaf’ starts with that familiar No Joy sensation where the sound seems to glow. The opening has a glossy, almost unreal brightness to it, with the production giving the track a soft halo. The melody feels immediate, small electronic flickers appear and the drums push the song forward with a clean snap. The guitars are a big part of why the track works so well. Tara McLeod brings a crunchy heavy tone into the mix, and those guitar parts stop the song from becoming too airy. They cut through the brighter surface and give the track a bit of grit. The vocal performance is one of the strongest parts of the track for me. She sounds present, direct and up front which suits the lyric beautifully.
What I really like about ‘Big Life, Big Leaf’ is its energy. The track moves. It glows. It has bounce in the drums and shine in those electronic touches. As a piece connected to the Bugland period, the single makes a lot of sense. It shares that same curiosity about sound, with shoegaze, pop and electronic detail feeding into each other. It also feels a little more direct, as if the song has stepped out of the undergrowth with its colours showing. The title gives you a clue as well to be fair lol. With this one, No Joy turn over a new leaf and make it feel massive.
‘Big Life, Big Leaf’ is out now via Sonic Cathedral. You can check it out over on the No Joy Bandcamp page.
You can follow No Joy on social media here…
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