No Shape

No Shape
No Shape
Studio album by Perfume Genius
Released	May 5, 2017
Recorded	October–December 2016
Studio	Zeitgeist; Boulevard; Desirée Ind.; (Los Angeles, CA);
Genre	Experimental pop
Length	43:14
Label	Matador
Producer	Blake Mills
Perfume Genius chronology
Singles from No Shape
	"Slip Away"; Released: March 21, 2017; "Go Ahead"; Released: April 19, 2017;

No Shape is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Perfume Genius, released on May 5, 2017, through Matador Records as the follow-up to Too Bright (2014).^[2]

Background

Hadreas was featured on the cover of the March–April 2017 issue of The Fader, which included a lengthy feature on Hadreas and his work on the next album.^[3] In the weeks following the article, Hadreas posted a number of video and audio clips teasing new music. On March 21, 2017 Hadreas announced his fourth studio album No Shape and released the first single "Slip Away", which was accompanied by a music video directed by frequent Björk collaborator Andrew Thomas Huang.^[4] The single was designated "Best New Track" by Pitchfork.^[5] On April 19, Hadreas released another single from the album called "Go Ahead" during a live Twitter Q&A with fans. On May 9, 2017 Perfume Genius released the video for "Die 4 You", directed by Floria Sigismondi.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	8.1/10^[6]
Metacritic	84/100^[7]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[8]
The A.V. Club	B+^[9]
The Guardian	^[10]
The Irish Times	^[11]
Mojo	^[12]
The Observer	^[13]
Pitchfork	8.8/10^[14]
Q	^[15]
Rolling Stone	^[16]
Vice	A−^[17]

Accolades

Publication	Accolade	Rank	Ref.
The Independent	The 30 best albums of 2017	4	^[18]
NME	NME's Albums of the Year 2017	24	^[19]
NPR	The 50 Best Albums of 2017	6	^[20]
Pitchfork	The 50 Best Albums of 2017	16	^[21]
Pitchfork	The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s	70	^[22]
Stereogum	The 50 Best Albums of 2017	4	^[23]
Uncut	Albums of the Year	70	^[24]
Vinyl Me, Please	The 30 Best Albums of 2017	16	^[25]

The album received a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical” at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.^[26] Additionally, it was noted as one of the works designated under producer Blake Mills’ nomination for “Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.”

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mike Hadreas, except where noted.

*No Shape* track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Otherside"		2:40
2.	"Slip Away"		2:45
3.	"Just Like Love"		3:14
4.	"Go Ahead"	Hadreas Blake Mills	2:53
5.	"Valley"		3:09
6.	"Wreath"		4:26
7.	"Every Night"		2:47
8.	"Choir"		2:28
9.	"Die 4 You"	Hadreas Mills	3:32
10.	"Sides" (featuring Weyes Blood)	Hadreas Mills Natalie Mering	4:52
11.	"Braid"		2:58
12.	"Run Me Through"		4:44
13.	"Alan"		2:46
Total length:			43:14

Personnel

Performance

Mike Hadreas – vocals (all tracks), piano (1, 7), synthesizer (3, 8, 12), Wurlitzer (9, 11), trumpet noises (9), congregation vocals (1)
Blake Mills – piano (1, 2, 5, 6, 11, 12), synthesizer (1-4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13), vocals (1, 6), marimba (2), guitars (2–6, 9, 10, 12), drums (2–4, 9, 10), percussion (2–4, 6, 9), tablas (3), bass (3–6, 10), baritone guitar (3), Marxophone (3), programming (4, 6), Mellotron (5), guitarron (7, 9, 12), organ (10, 11), kora (11), celeste (12), Omnichord (12), woodwinds (12), congregation vocals (1)
Stuart Johnson – drums (2), percussion (2, 4), cymbals (3, 9),
Rob Moose – violin (3–5, 7–10), viola (3–5, 7, 9, 10), string arrangements (3–5, 7, 9, 10)
Alan Wyffels – backing vocals (6), synthesizer (7, 10), vocals (9, 13), Rhodes piano (12), piano (13)
Natalie Mering – vocals (10, 11)
Pino Palladino – bass (12)
Chris Dave – drums (12), percussion (12)
Shawn Everett – synthesizer (13)
Joseph Lorge – congregation vocals (1)
Clay Blair – congregation vocals (1)
Becca Luce – congregation vocals (1)
Chris Doerr – congregation vocals (1)

Production

Blake Mills – production
Shawn Everett – engineering, mixing
Joseph Lorge – engineering
Clay Blair – studio assistance
Omar Yakar – studio assistance
Brendan Dekora – studio assistance
Patricia Sullivan – mastering
Inez and Vinoodh – artwork
Mike Zimmerman – design

Charts

Chart (2017)	Peak position
Australia Hitseekers (ARIA)^[27]	12
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[28]	30
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[29]	116
Irish Albums (IRMA)^[30]	90
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)^[31]	9
Portuguese Albums (AFP)^[32]	40
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[33]	80
UK Albums (OCC)^[34]	96
US Billboard 200^[35]	185

References

^ Roberts, Randall (May 18, 2017). "What to Listen to Now". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 4, 2022. An expertly crafted experimental pop album that at various points suggests the work of singer Kate Bush, the effects-drenched work of the Cocteau Twins and British art-rock band Talk Talk...
^ Geslani, Michelle (March 21, 2017). "Perfume Genius details new album, No Shape, shares video for 'Slip Away'". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
^ "How Perfume Genius Grew Up And Started Thriving". thefader.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
^ "Perfume Genius Announces New Album No Shape, Shares Video for New Song "Slip Away": Watch | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
^ "Best New Track "Slip Away"". pitchfork.com. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
^ "No Shape by Perfume Genius reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
^ "Reviews and Tracks for No Shape by Perfume Genius". Metacritic. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
^ Phares, Heather. "No Shape – Perfume Genius". AllMusic. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
^ Vishnevetsky, Ignatiy (May 5, 2017). "Perfume Genius goes on an art-pop adventure in search of his feminine side". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
^ Petridis, Alexis (May 4, 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape review – confident and melodic, with a rich seam of strange". The Guardian. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
^ Clayton-Lea, Tony (May 4, 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape – dazzling, self-healing alt.pop from Mike Hadreas". The Irish Times. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
^ Aston, Martin (June 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape". Mojo (283): 92.
^ Empire, Kitty (May 7, 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape review – scents and a new sensibility". The Observer. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
^ Snapes, Laura (May 5, 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
^ Segal, Victoria (July 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape". Q (373): 112.
^ Hermes, Will (May 5, 2017). "Review: Perfume Genius' Goth-Glam Gets Optimistic on 'No Shape'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
^ Christgau, Robert (June 2, 2018). "Robert Christgau on the Bold Pop of Janelle Monáe and Perfume Genius". Vice. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
^ "The 30 Best Albums of 2017". The Independent. November 28, 2017. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
^ "NME's Albums of the Year 2017". NME. November 23, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". NPR. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Pitchfork. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
^ "The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s". Pitchfork. October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
^ Stereogum Staff (December 5, 2017). "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Stereogum. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
^ "Uncut's 75 Best Albums of 2017". Uncut. November 21, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
^ "The 30 Best Albums of 2017". Vinyl Me, Please. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
^ "60th Annual GRAMMY Awards". May 22, 2018.
^ "ARIA Report: Issue 1283" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
^ "Ultratop.be – Perfume Genius – No Shape" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
^ "Ultratop.be – Perfume Genius – No Shape" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
^ "Irish Albums Chart: 12 May 2017". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
^ "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 15, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Perfume Genius – No Shape". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
^ "Perfume Genius Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2017.

[Roberts-1] Roberts, Randall (May 18, 2017). "What to Listen to Now". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 4, 2022. An expertly crafted experimental pop album that at various points suggests the work of singer Kate Bush, the effects-drenched work of the Cocteau Twins and British art-rock band Talk Talk...

[2] Geslani, Michelle (March 21, 2017). "Perfume Genius details new album, No Shape, shares video for 'Slip Away'". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved March 26, 2017.

[3] "How Perfume Genius Grew Up And Started Thriving". thefader.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017.

[4] "Perfume Genius Announces New Album No Shape, Shares Video for New Song "Slip Away": Watch | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.

[5] "Best New Track "Slip Away"". pitchfork.com. Retrieved March 21, 2017.

[6] "No Shape by Perfume Genius reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved August 27, 2019.

[meta-7] "Reviews and Tracks for No Shape by Perfume Genius". Metacritic. Retrieved November 11, 2017.

[8] Phares, Heather. "No Shape – Perfume Genius". AllMusic. Retrieved January 24, 2018.

[9] Vishnevetsky, Ignatiy (May 5, 2017). "Perfume Genius goes on an art-pop adventure in search of his feminine side". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 24, 2018.

[10] Petridis, Alexis (May 4, 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape review – confident and melodic, with a rich seam of strange". The Guardian. Retrieved January 24, 2018.

[11] Clayton-Lea, Tony (May 4, 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape – dazzling, self-healing alt.pop from Mike Hadreas". The Irish Times. Retrieved January 24, 2018.

[12] Aston, Martin (June 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape". Mojo (283): 92.

[13] Empire, Kitty (May 7, 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape review – scents and a new sensibility". The Observer. Retrieved January 24, 2018.

[14] Snapes, Laura (May 5, 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 24, 2018.

[15] Segal, Victoria (July 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape". Q (373): 112.

[16] Hermes, Will (May 5, 2017). "Review: Perfume Genius' Goth-Glam Gets Optimistic on 'No Shape'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 24, 2018.

[17] Christgau, Robert (June 2, 2018). "Robert Christgau on the Bold Pop of Janelle Monáe and Perfume Genius". Vice. Retrieved June 2, 2018.

[18] "The 30 Best Albums of 2017". The Independent. November 28, 2017. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2017.

[19] "NME's Albums of the Year 2017". NME. November 23, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.

[20] "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". NPR. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.

[21] "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Pitchfork. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.

[22] "The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s". Pitchfork. October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.

[23] Stereogum Staff (December 5, 2017). "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Stereogum. Retrieved December 6, 2017.

[24] "Uncut's 75 Best Albums of 2017". Uncut. November 21, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.

[25] "The 30 Best Albums of 2017". Vinyl Me, Please. Retrieved December 6, 2017.

[26] "60th Annual GRAMMY Awards". May 22, 2018.

[27] "ARIA Report: Issue 1283" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2025.

[ac_Flanders_Perfume_Genius-28] "Ultratop.be – Perfume Genius – No Shape" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 13, 2017.

[ac_Wallonia_Perfume_Genius-29] "Ultratop.be – Perfume Genius – No Shape" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 20, 2017.

[30] "Irish Albums Chart: 12 May 2017". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved May 13, 2017.

[31] "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 15, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.

[ac_Portugal_Perfume_Genius-32] "Portuguesecharts.com – Perfume Genius – No Shape". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 1, 2017.

[ac_Scotland_-33] "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2017.

[ac_UK2_-34] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2017.

[ac_Billboard200_Perfume_Genius-35] "Perfume Genius Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2017.

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v t e Perfume Genius
Discography
Studio albums	Learning Put Your Back N 2 It Too Bright No Shape Set My Heart on Fire Immediately Ugly Season Glory
Other	"Jonathan" (Christine and the Queens featuring Perfume Genius) "Good Ones (Perfume Genius Remix)" (Charli XCX)

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