In No Sense? Nonsense!
Art of Noise · 1987
41 min · 16 tracks · electronic music
A surreal blend of electronic soundscapes and avant-garde compositions that defy conventional musical structures.
Top tracks — play these first
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Dragnet Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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E.F.L. — This track exemplifies the album's avant-garde ethos through its complex layering of samples and rhythmic variations, creating an immersive listening experience.
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How Rapid? — The brevity of this track encapsulates the playful yet thought-provoking nature of the album, challenging listeners' perceptions of time and sound.
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One Earth — This closing track synthesizes the album's themes with an orchestral arrangement that contrasts with earlier experimental pieces, offering a sense of resolution.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album's experimental structure and rich sound design mark it as a notable entry in electronic music.
What we noticed
- The album features a wide range of electronic textures, with tracks often layering multiple sound samples and effects to create complex auditory landscapes.
- Several tracks employ unconventional structures, eschewing traditional verse-chorus formats in favor of abstract arrangements that evolve gradually.
- The use of silence and pauses is prominent, with some tracks incorporating long stretches of ambient sound before introducing rhythmic elements.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- playful sound exploration sessions
- dynamic flow with unexpected peaks
- short bursts of auditory intrigue
- cerebral engagement through unconventional structures
Maybe skip if you
- seeking traditional song structures
- prefer straightforward listening experiences
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — The album showcases a bold evolution in sound, defying conventional structures.
- Themes
- avant-garde soundscapes· playful absurdity· orchestral resolution
- Career context
- Released in 1987, In No Sense? Nonsense! is Art of Noise's third studio album, following their influential debut, Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise? The album showcases a bold evolution in their sound, experimenting with more complex arrangements and concepts. At this point, the group was solidifying their reputation as pioneers in the electronic music scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gary Numan· Kraftwerk· Depeche Mode
Tracklist
- 1 Galleons of Stone 1:11
- 2 Dragnet Start here 3:27
- 3 Fin du Temps 2:04
- 4 How Rapid? 0:51
- 5 Opus for Four 3:11
- 6 Debut 1:44
- 7 E.F.L. 6:39
- 8 A Day at the Races 4:00
- 9 Ode to Don Jose 3:13
- 10 Counterpoint 0:56
- 11 Roundabout 727 0:45
- 12 Ransom on the Sand 1:16
- 13 Roller 1 3:30
- 14 Nothing Was Going to Stop Them Then, Anyway 0:44
- 15 Crusoe 3:37
- 16 One Earth 4:27
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Duck Stab / Buster & Glen
The Residents
Both explore avant-garde sound with playful absurdity and unconventional structures.
Another Green World
Brian Eno
Shares a similar experimental spirit with lush electronic textures and unexpected sonic landscapes.
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Devo
Combines new wave energy with surreal lyrical themes and innovative production techniques.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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