In No Sense? Nonsense! cover

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

  • →
    Dragnet Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
  • →
    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.
  • →
    How Rapid? — The brevity of this track encapsulates the playful yet thought-provoking nature of the album, challenging listeners' perceptions of time and sound.
  • →
    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.

Instrumental
61 /100
Treeline
Higher than 71% of albums we've rated

The 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
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

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

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata