Dynamic duo No Beauty is willing to do just about anything to tell their story their way. Their dual efforts establish a whimsical indie soundscape that is sure to transcend across various, unexpected audiences. This is especially prevalent in their latest record, ‘No Beauty Will Remain.’ Listeners will be pleasantly surprised upon the first few seconds of the record, with the first few notes introducing them to a sonic world beyond reasonable expectations. The LP directly results from a pair working seamlessly together, feeding off each other’s strengths and aesthetics to create something invaluable. Fans of Boygenius will find comfort in this record; everything the indie supergroup is good at while taking a chance on more risks proves to be the right decision every time.

Poignant lyricism and world-building appear to be among No Beauty’s core values as a creative force. The introductory track, “so do i,” explores the sonic possibilities available with each player’s born-in instrument—their voice. Though Helena Alexandria seems to take the lead most frequently, both she and Jonathan Malstrom take the keys (literally), switching off intuitively rather than forcing a voice into a composition. “so do i” opens the record on a high note, inviting new audiences into No Beauty’s storybook world. This pair works in perfect symbiosis, building upon each other’s emotions as each song progresses, leading to a cohesive, enchanting mix, even in shorter tracks like “so do i”

The upbeat follow-up, “JUNE,” scratches the surface of Helena Alexandria’s powerful vocal range, perfectly encapsulating her chosen genre. Lyrically, the song is more optimistic than many others on the record. “Agony preserves this truth” is simple yet profound; it’s often difficult to live in the moment, knowing time is not always on your side, but making that decision can ultimately improve your life. Yet, “JUNE” feels like summertime yearning, a craving for something beyond verbal description. Plus, the song features incredible guitar playing, especially towards the end. The mix would be incomplete without the powerful drum beat guiding its emotional weight along.

“Hourglass” is gorgeous melodically and ethereal, nodding to The Beatles a bit while still playing into the indie-folk elements the record does so well. The lead vocals get a bit lost in this mix; this is an unfortunate side-effect of emotive live-playing. These stems don’t seem to be recorded individually but as a collective, giving them more overall feeling. Eventually, the record combats these circumstances, and Helena Alexandria’s voice becomes crystal clear. Still, the song is stunning, and it is interesting to hear distorted guitars integrated into this soundscape. The instrumental is gorgeous, reminiscent of hit songs by breakout star Lucy Dacus, especially with the accompanying vocal stylings.

A fascinating stylistic choice is, interestingly, found within each song title. Lowercase “pharmacy” showcases the lettering switch-ups throughout the whole record. “pharmacy” does sound like a song performed in lowercase, in a good way! Mellow yet moving, “pharmacy” alchemizes what appears to be a real-world scenario that at least one of the duo experienced at one point. Honest lyricism is potent in modern music. People crave to relate to the media they consume, especially something as intimate as music, and No Beauty is fantastic at capturing hearts with their poetry. This is one of my favorite songs on the record.

The live drums in “Alexandria Ottoline Endellion” are perfect for the mix, as Helena Alexandria tells her story eloquently. There is also some impressive bass playing in this song, and it is perhaps the loudest bass in ‘No Beauty Will Remain.’ Lyrically, this song ties together many thematic elements the duo explores. There are some exciting callbacks in many of the songs, but “Alexandria Ottoline Endellion” is arguably the full-picture climax, where everything becomes rounded out as a whole body of work. It’s an impressive tie-in, a reminder that cohesive albums are a powerful art form.

“taking off my clothes” is another lowercase song, suggesting they are saying the quiet part out loud. This is my favorite song on the record based on the instrumental, vocals, and lyrics. Many song lyrics are humbling reminders of humanity, but this one is tear-inducing. Though formed from a deeply feminine perspective, “taking off my clothes” potentially transcends gender-based societal norms. Its primary focus is the vulnerable nature of our closest relationships, how revealing feelings is occasionally more terrifying than physically removing layers of clothing. When these lyrical themes are mixed in with such a unique composition, magic happens. This song belongs in indie history books.

As the record ends, No Beauty makes sure to tie up any loose ends. “You Died” brings back more themes of vulnerability, revealing insecurities and allegorically integrating the passage of time. It’s not easy to kill someone off in your mind after they hurt you, but “You Died” encapsulates every high and low that comes with doing what’s best for yourself. Sonically, this song suggests that No Beauty will eventually build upon their often cinematic sonic choices. These builds with various percussion, vocals, and guitars will serve them well in the future, especially as musicians who play what they feel.

Finally, “Black Dog Shadow” closes out ‘No Beauty Will Remain’ by incorporating live acoustic guitar in a full mix. This is indie-folk at its core, and it would not be surprising if this record broke No Beauty out into the big time. Vocally, this is one of Helena Alexandria’s best performances. She appears to feel safe working with Malstrom, and this sense of comfort allows her to break through any barriers, performing these deeply vulnerable verses and choruses effortlessly. “I thought you were the moon” is a single line that will stick with me for a long time.

‘No Beauty Will Remain’ is a phenomenal record, showcasing creative prowess shining through. It is removed from any expectations of what indie “should” be so that the artists can fully shine within their strengths. Vocally powerful, lyrically profound, and emotionally moving, this record takes listeners on a relatable sonic journey. Each new layer revealed within these songs suggests that we are not all that different. Music is said to be the world’s only universal language, and this record proves that to be true.