No Joy, the shoegaze project helmed by Montreal mastermind Jasamine White-Gluz, have announced their forthcoming new album, previewed today by its title track.
Bugland is set to arrive on August 8 via Hand Drawn Dracula / Sonic Cathedral. The follow-up to 2020's Motherhood — as well as the 10th anniversary release of their scrapped second album, Wait to Pleasure, in 2023 — was produced with Chicago experimentalist Fire-Toolz, who is also featured on closing track "Jelly Meadow Bright."
"The collaboration really felt limitless," Fire-Toolz (a.k.a. Angel Marcloid) said in a press release. "I didn't have to adhere to a certain vision in a way that made me feel like I couldn't be Fire-Toolz. I could easily relate to this album because Jasamine and I liked a lot of the same music, and I was able to be creative in ways that were freeing as if I was making my own album."
Of the title track, White-Gluz added, "This was the first song Fire-Toolz & No Joy produced together, initially without any plan to ever release it. Our production styles melded so well together on this track that we decided we should make a whole album. The song came together super organically, from the Korn-esque bass lines to the earworm vocal, it's the welcome sign of the album letting you know you've officially entered our world."
Infusing glitchy electronics into No Joy's signature swathes of heavy distortion, "Bugland" arrives alongside a Jeremy Dabrowski-directed music video, which you can watch below. There, you'll also find the album tracklist details.
Bugland:
1. Garbage Dream House
2. Bugland
3. Bits
4. Save the Lobsters
5. My Crud Princess
6. Bather in the Bloodcells
7. I hate that I forget what you look like
8. Jelly Meadow Bright (feat. Fire-Toolz)