No Shape
Perfume Genius · 2017
43 min · 13 tracks · indie pop
Lush, ethereal soundscapes blend with intimate storytelling, creating a vibrant exploration of identity and vulnerability.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Slip Away — This track serves as an anthem of liberation, combining buoyant melodies with lyrics that celebrate self-acceptance and freedom from societal constraints.
-
→
Choir — With its haunting harmonies and poignant lyrics, Choir captures the essence of longing and emotional catharsis, representing the album's core themes beautifully.
-
→
Every Night — This track stands out for its intimate portrayal of desire and vulnerability, featuring stark contrasts between delicate instrumentation and powerful vocal delivery.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's lush soundscapes and intimate storytelling create a distinctive listening experience that rewards repeat plays.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a lush, layered sound that features prominent synths and vocal harmonies, establishing an ethereal atmosphere.
- Several tracks incorporate dynamic shifts in tempo and intensity, such as 'Slip Away,' which builds to a climactic chorus before dropping back to a softer verse.
- The final three tracks create a reflective mood, gradually slowing down and using sparse instrumentation to enhance the emotional weight.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
7/10
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
- intimate storytelling with vulnerability
- lush soundscapes for reflection
- short tracks for quick bursts
- ethereal vibes for late nights
- uplifting moments amidst introspection
Maybe skip if you
- prefer longer, sprawling albums
- seek high-energy party tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2017, No Shape marked Perfume Genius's third studio album and followed the critically acclaimed Too Bright. This album solidified Mike Hadreas’s status as a significant voice in indie pop, showcasing his evolution into a more confident, experimental artist following a period of personal growth and artistic exploration.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Sufjan Stevens· FKA twigs· James Blake
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Otherside 2:40
- 2 Slip Away 2:45
- 3 Just Like Love 3:14
- 4 Go Ahead 2:53
- 5 Valley 3:09
- 6 Wreath 4:26
- 7 Every Night 2:47
- 8 Choir 2:28
- 9 Die 4 You 3:32
- 10 Sides 4:52
- 11 Braid 2:58
- 12 Run Me Through 4:44
- 13 Alan 2:46
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.