- The phrase "no future" has a long history in contemporary music, particularly in London. You can trace it all the way from the Sex Pistols in the '70s through to Instra:mental around the turn of the decade. In a climate of neoliberalism and right-wing politics, the phrase channels feelings of frustration and nihilism in young people. "'No Future' as an old punk slogan feels more relevant to me than ever before," London producer Moiré told us while announcing his second album. On his new album by that name, his music is as slate-grey as ever, but gone is the drowsiness of earlier releases. The jittery nervousness that replaces it makes No Future more engaging than most of its predecessors.
The wiry basslines of the first track "Sequence 1," and its follow-up, "Lost You," make for a swift introduction to Moiré's more confident sound—buoyant, though not exactly upbeat. The DRS-assisted "Lost You" connects his self-described "London techno" with the city's drum & bass legacy. His production, slippery and broken, is more energetic than usual. Even better is DRS, who rides the odd beat with the expertise of someone who has been MCing for decades.
There are other touches that give Moiré's music a livelier feel. On "Lost You" and the funky electro of "Casual," the handclaps are playful and abundant. "Bootleg," another track with DRS, comes with an addictive bassline. "Secret Window" enhances Shelter's wobbly gait with a big, trancey synth lead. No Future is dance music that's groovy in spite of itself, mirroring the kind of twitchy energy you get after pulling an all-nighter.
As irrepressible as the album is, it's also as thoroughly greyscale as Moiré's previous work, which can make it feel sludgy and samey. While fine on their own, tracks like "Magma Dream" and "Opposites" tend to blur together, and are overshadowed by standout tunes like "Lost You." It's an album that could have been a near-perfect EP—at its high points No Future presents the most inventive work of Moiré's career. As a whole package, though, it's a bit of a grind, as glum as it is propulsive. As an album that reflects the times, maybe that's the point—No Future, is, after all, a bleak idea, and Moiré has made some bleak dance music to go with it.
Tracklist01. Sequence 1
02. Lost You feat. DRS
03. Secret Window
04. Opium
05. Casual
06. Magma Dream
07. Jupiter
08. Opposites
09. Bootleg feat. DRS
10. Façade feat. James Massiah
11. System 100
12. Auteur (Outro)