No Shouts No Calls is an undemanding record, perhaps the most undemanding of Electrelane's career, and the reason looks to be a simple one: Verity Susman's heart has broken, and, as a result, abstract artiness has given way to candor.
An inverse of Axes, No Shouts No Calls is mostly songs with vocals with a few instrumentals thrown in for good measure, and it is, of course, with the help of the lyrics that we get an impression of the heartbroken nature of the album. These are the most personal lyrics that Susman has yet written — or, if not the most personal, then certainly the most explicit. The candidness meshes well Electrelane's customarily bittersweet music.
Though admittedly a more conventional record, No Shouts No Calls still has its surprises. The call and response structure of the verses of "Saturday" is particularly delightful, as is the chugging metal guitars of "Between the Wolf and the Dog." And, whilst the chorus from the previous two records is nowhere to be heard, in its place, on "Cut and Run," is an equally charming ukulele in what is, I think, the saddest, though also prettiest, song of the album. Of course, it helps that this particular song in anchored into place by the blistering instrumentals, "Five" and "The Lighthouse," two songs which would have been quite at home on Axes, and which, together with several other songs, allow No Shouts No Calls to rock, and heartily.
If this record is a little disappointing it's only because it follows Axes, which was, arguably, one of the best albums released in 2005. Nevertheless, No Shouts No Calls is an incredibly pretty but rather sad record that is certainly worth purchasing.
the kind haze and terrible shimmer of things
Reviewed on Wednesday, 16 May 2007