Noir Dream’s “Perception Deception” captivated me with a single listen and later plays confirmed my first impression. William and Jared Wade’s songwriting and music, however, serve multiple purposes. Struggle fueled much of the band’s formation and still does as both men searched for a way to process and heal from experiences with, respectively, schizoaffective disorder and PTSD brought on by childhood trauma. They are driven by aesthetic considerations, obviously, and both are fine writers in their chosen path, but Noir Dream’s raison d’etre is wider than most bands and artists.
It doesn’t make them better, just different. The world of “Perception Deception” isn’t the pop song world of lost love, found love, living fast and/or dying young. Lyricist and lead singer William Wade writes about walking through the world not being able to trust the wisdom of what he thinks, feels, and sees and invokes the dislocation with chiseled lines. There’s nothing chiseled about his delivery, however. It is open to interpretation. Some ears will hear how Wade’s voice simmers with claustrophobic desperation barely under wraps. Other may hear something else. One thing everyone will agree on is Wade’s vocal is never indifferent.
The guitar crunches with a jagged bite. Noir Dream concocts a handful of elemental no-frills riffs propelling forward crucial sections of the track without ever upending your expectations. The opening bass remains the same, the relentless pre-programmed drum beat. It has the right rhythm, however, and its metronomic precision provides listeners with a key contrast for the song.
It generates genuine tension and momentum. A big reason for this is Noir Dream keeping things tight and short. No needless self-indulgence, no useless sideshows. Bands and artists don’t always begin the recording process with a clear path to follow and, especially, a mission underlying the project but, when they do, it shows. Noir Dream’s focus is complete and hearing how much the song and performance mean to them pulls listeners in.
The bass line is one of the song’s highlights and many will enjoy how William Wade’s lyrics build around it. Wade uses direct and conversational language throughout the song and never leans on tired cliches we’ve heard in scores of previous songs. You hear the same urgency in the words present in the performance.
Call it paying it forward, whatever you like, but Noir Dream knows how to balance their higher sense of purpose with the music. The latter never suffers. Expect to hear more from this band’s EP as their music will likely strike a chord with many listeners. Their message is relatable, they depict extreme experiences in a way anyone can understand, and the music is top notch. Their hope to “give back” the gift they feel they’ve received is just a cherry on top, albeit a delicious and nourishing one. Let’s hope there are many more Noir Dream releases to come. Their enterprising nature, along with their obvious talent, makes it a near-lock. We need voices like this in the modern music world more than ever before.
Claire Uebelacker