‘BEAUTIFUL NOISE’ BY PYNCH IS A HOLY GRAIL THAT TAKES LISTENERS DOWN A ROAD OF SELF-REFLECTION
Change is a tricky thing, but Pynch manages to capture that angst perfectly in their sophomore album, Beautiful Noise.
The band has undergone significant growth, as this was an opportunity for them to showcase themselves at every level in the way they want to present themselves as a band. The album is packed with a variety of different sounds to choose from, each track different from its predecessor.
Throughout the listening experience, the beat changes unexpectedly, sounds emerge that you wouldn’t expect, and experimental effects blast your senses, all leading into a sweet blend of sounds that make up the beautiful album. Pynch is not shy in Beautiful Noise, quite the contrary, in fact. They are quick to show off their many talents and refuse to hold back their creativity. Pynch are chameleons — you can find a little bit of everything in this genre-bending album.
The album carries existential themes of love and living, even breaking the fourth wall at times. It’s rare to hear this level of authenticity so plainly spelled out, but they manage to check this box effortlessly. Life’s uncertainty is something the band harnesses to their advantage, creating a conscious album that explores spirituality and the meaning of our existence.
You enter the album with “Forever,” immediately setting the tone with a bright theme that explores the fear of wasting time. This is a fast-paced song with quick drums and witty lyrics. The spacey sound effects are present throughout the album, entering and exiting at various points, complementing the otherworldly sound. It’s a strong start and definitely an appropriate opening track, kicking things off on a fun, dreamy note.
“Post-Punk/New Wave” instantly switches up the energy, taking on an unserious and self-aware tone, plainly spelling out, “I don’t know what I’m doing.” It begs not to be put in a box and authentically breaks the fourth wall. This track literally explores the songwriting and recording process that was likely used during the creation of this album. At the same time, the spoken poem's use of sarcasm and stream-of-consciousness style is an enjoyable addition. While a bit out of place with the rest of the album, this track is still ideally placed, as it serves as a buffer before delving into the album's main content.
Playful names are really Pynch’s bread and butter at this point, as the cleverly named “Hanging on a Bassline” utilizes heavy bass to carry the tone of the song. I think this one (ironically compared to the title of the last song) takes a more uppity post-punk sound, with the combination of the bass and quick-hitting drum fills. It picks up the pace a bit and is an overall soundtrack with strong instrumentals that set the stage for the sequence of songs to come.
In “The Supermarket,” this quick pace continues, but leads with a metronome that guides the song. This song revolves around love, continuing with those space synths that have been present throughout. The literal descriptions of this feeling, through clever wordplay —“tastes like cheap cocaine, it sounds like an ex’s name, it feels like a warm embrace”—are done so incredibly, and continue with the playful theme. It's really upbeat, and the synths and keys are deliberately dynamic in this track.
This tempo is rapidly increased in “How You Love Someone,” which is another one of their previously released singles. Immediately, you’re hit with fast, sweet guitar tones. While it initially seemed like a relatively basic indie song, the ripping guitar solo, which carries mega-distorted tones, is incredibly emotional and ties into the electric switch-up that really sustains interest in the music.
Continuing with themes from the heart, “Revolve Around You” explores the ups and downs of recovery in a way that is incredibly unique and special. It’s slow during reminiscing times, ”I lost myself chasing memories of things that were never there at all,” even stopping altogether. After that, a breakcore beat interrupts these thoughts with realistic reflection: “But it was nice to revolve around, if only for a moment.” It all crescendos into a mix of the two, showing that recovery is not linear, and instead a rollercoaster that you eventually get off of. This is an incredibly unique sonic device that initially catches you off guard, and then immediately catches on. Combining it with the recollection process gave it that extra level of nuance that will completely blow you out of your seat.
“Microwave Rhapsody” could not be better timed on the album, and builds upon the previous song’s work to process this change. While the illusion of a false reality has worn off, the ego is bruised and hurting, just like staring at the wall, not knowing what to do next. It explores the existential meaning of life, complemented by beautiful guitar and synth to evoke a spaced-out feeling. The microwave is symbolic of introspection; it forces you to pause and reflect on the journey thus far. It’s like watching something happen and waiting for it to be different. Carrying on this theme of soul-searching, the album’s title track, “Beautiful Noise,” again plays off of “Microwave Rhapsody,” taking a melodic angle to acceptance. Life is a “beautiful noise,” adopting a more optimistic perspective on life's strains and struggles, and persevering even when it doesn’t make sense. The trumpet brings an entirely new element to the album, crescendoing into a beautiful symphony of sounds that is so emotionally charged it’ll give you chills. This is undoubtedly the album's climax.
The rest of the album explores the embracing of uncertainties in existence, with “Come Outside” adopting a more folky and even psychedelic vibe. Drummer Julianna Hopkins shines in this vocally – I am disappointed we didn’t hear more from her throughout the album – but the duet moment in this is gold. This song really leans into the poetic side of the band, highlighting rhythmic wordplay over powerful instrumentals. “It’s Wonderful” ends the album on a short but sweet note. “Making money never was my sport” is a comical line that many people can relate to. While a more impactful song was expected to conclude such a strong album, this may have been intentional, given the sequence of heavy-hitting tracks that preceded it.
This is a super playful album, and Myles Gammon shines with the diverse synths throughout the record, and Spencer Enock with vocals techniques that are incredibly distinctive. In the end, it’s obvious how the entire album could represent the stages of grief, taking you through an epic journey of love, loss, depression, and acceptance.
The highlight – the beautiful song progression. Each track is placed with great purpose, making this album an expedition. It starts fun and lighthearted, not taking itself too seriously. Towards the middle, though, deeper introspection is taken, leading to darker themes and well-rounded lyricism. Towards the last couple of tracks, it rounds out, coming full circle to that lighthearted reality with a new understanding of the world. In a sea of unrelated singles compiled together, Beautiful Noise looks to deconstruct this, bringing intentionality back to album creation.
