No Shape

マイク・ハドレアスによるパフューム・ジーニアスが、4作目となる待望のアルバム『No Shape』を〈Matador〉よりリリースする。レコーディングはロサンゼルスで行い、プロデュースはアラバマ・シェイクスやスカイ・フェレイラも手掛けエリック・クラプトン、ノラ・ジョーンズをも魅了する天才、ブレイク・ミルズ。ミキシングはグラミー賞受賞経験もあるショーン・エヴェレット。世界に衝撃を与えた2014年リリースの代表曲「Queen」収録の大ヒットアルバム『Too Bright』で音楽的な飛躍を見せ、後にも先にも唯一無二なサウンドを響かせるハドレアス。彼は今回更なる進化を遂げ、教会音楽やラブソング、R&B、アートポップ、クラウトロックといったサウンドに、彼独自の個性を混ぜ合わせ、壮大な楽曲群を作り上げている。旅を終えた彼は、批評家に賞賛されるアンダーグラウンドの英雄から、すっかり一人前のポップソングの創り手へと変貌を遂げた。

Trauma and its transformative powers have been at the heart of Perfume Genius' music since the beginning, and in its own way, No Shape is no exception. On early albums like Learning, it felt like Mike Hadreas had to fight through the pain to get out his hushed confessions, while the fierce Too Bright brought his anger to the surface. No Shape finds Hadreas moving toward acceptance, allowing his music to bloom and grow. Musically and emotionally, it's a move that's as bold as Too Bright was, even though this album's sound is more incandescent than its predecessor's molten rage. Producer Blake Mills' Technicolor arrangements and sonic tricks help Perfume Genius make good on the subversive lavishness Too Bright promised: "Otherside" begins the album with a tender piano ballad that feels almost predictable -- until it explodes into glittering choruses that are anything but. From there, Hadreas explores different sounds that reflect the need for change after pain, whether it's the luminous "Slip Away," the psychedelic orchestral synth-pop of "Just Like Love," the daring electro of "Go Ahead," or the brilliant Kate Bush homage "Wreath." This newfound flexibility extends to No Shape's expressions of sensuality, which span the slow-burning trip-hop of "Die 4 You," the late-night sultriness of "Run Me Through," and "Sides," where '80s funk and synth-pop influences, strings, and Weyes Blood's ethereal vocals combine in a swooning, complex standout. However, the most compelling proof of Hadreas' transformed state of mind may lie within No Shape's ballads. On songs like "Every Night" and especially the spine-tingling love song to his partner, "Alan," he sings with the gentleness of someone who's healed after being fragile and broken. Though No Shape shows how much his music has expanded since the Learning days, it also proves he hasn't lost any of his ability to connect with listeners. Instead, it reveals him as a sonic adventurer and truth teller who's made some of his most compulsively listenable music. ~ Heather Phares