May 5th, 2014 
Brian Leak 
Artist: no:carrier
Album: Wisdom & Failure
Genre: Alternative, Electronic
With one half of the duo residing in San Francisco, California and the other in Germany, no:carrier already have a set of challenges before them as long distance relationships obviously have their limitations–this applies to unions in music as well. However, the hindrance of many miles hasn’t stopped this dark synth duo from creating Wisdom & Failure, their newest full-length release. Full of springy synth leads, pulsating beats, dark vocals, and eerie tones, Wisdom & Failure impressively balances upbeat pop and solemnity between its 12 tracks, but can it also manage holding your interest over its 50-minute runtime or leave you with a desire to revisit it?
Opening with “Alone Now,” the album immediately explores an interesting dichotomy, because despite its melancholy lyrics, it has a kind of poppy, uplifting quality in its tone with a great melody driven by the back and forth vocals between Wechselberger and Wirsig. This theme in sound is prominent throughout most of the album. There’s lots of full-bodied electronics; soaring synths and heavy bass–but the hypnotic vocals and their often dark themes tell a different story. As interesting as this combination can be initially, the layers of spiraling and plucky synth-work over a heavy, driving beat begin to get a tad monotonous and a lack of variation in the vocals can certainly lead to a sense of boredom. “Let Me Walk Alone” is a evidence of this notion just within one track. It’s a Gothic, trance-like cut with fast-paced hi-hat and dramatic vocals that put the theatrics at an all-time high. It leans a little on the cheesy side, coming off almost as a sort of karaoke track from the late ’90s or early 2000s. Its nearly 6-minute runtime and seemingly endless repetition unfortunately make it a chore to get through.
It’s not all tedious, though! The fantasy-laden “Sunset Castle” livens things up a bit with fun, upbeat electronic elements, orchestral layers and an antiquated folky feel in its vocal approach reminiscent of a charming medieval tune. “The Nine Days’ Queen” offers a similar treat in story and style making for two of the strongest offerings on the effort. There’s also the eerie yet funky “Thoughts/Shoot The Sky,” which, apart from the vocals, could score a Sega Genesis game from the ’90s. The closer and title track is one of the strongest as well with a dramatic wall of ambient sound and beautiful vocal layers accented with bits of synth and piano that closes out the album on an impressive high.
This duo’s music in an acquired taste to begin with. It’s not easily accessible but that just means that they’re making the music that they want to make and that honesty is commendable. Wisdom & Failure definitely feels too long, but I think that there’s a good album in it amidst the excess, and that good album includes many parts that most likely wouldn’t appeal to many listeners outside of those that enjoy the very niche dark, synthy, industrial, sometimes trance-y with bits of pop sound. Despite this album not working for me as a whole, there are definitely tracks that I enjoy and that’s enough for me to have interest in checking out what no:carrier have on the horizon.
SCORE: 5.5/10
Review written by: Brian Lion — (Follow him on Twitter)
- UTG PREMIERE: Hymn – ‘Mouth’ EP - June 10, 2016
- SakkieFTW snaps you out of it with new EP, ‘Experiment 1.3.2’ - June 6, 2016
- The Lost Poets’ ‘Insubordia pt II’ is dark and gritty - June 3, 2016
Posted in 
Tags: 