Some stories are simply too good to ignore. A home producer from Wuppertal in Germany messages former Blackmail frontman Aydo Abay via Facebook, asking if he’d consider lending his voice to two instrumental tracks. The request is politely declined. But the songs linger in Abay’s mind, refusing to be dismissed—until, eventually, he makes a counteroffer: why not record an entire album?
The man behind the message is Sascha Wiercinski, previously known under the moniker Old Nobody. For this collaboration, the “Old” was dropped, giving us “No Body – Loves You”.
From the very first play, it’s clear: for a trio, this record carries an immense sonic weight. Swathes of reverb-drenched synths and vast, shimmering textures create an almost oppressive density. Hypnotic, spacey, brooding, slightly unhinged—I’d describe “Loves You” as a mournful, post-apocalyptic blend of new wave and indie rock, laced with gothic undertones. Abay’s elegiac, gliding vocals hover above the shadowy soundscape with eerie precision, a perfect fit for the album’s sombre mood.
The cover artwork—a bleak biblical scene—sets the tone beautifully (and is, by the way, rather striking). From the opening notes of “0101”, I feel less like I’m listening to an album and more like I’m being launched into the cold vastness of space, with no guarantee of a safe return.
“Out On Crystal”, one of the album’s singles, lands early in the tracklist and immediately stands out as a highlight. In fact, No Body are at their best when they lean into gritty, driving guitars—see also “The Hideout”, which veers towards the jagged energy of early Blackmail.
Another standout is “Twisties”, a soaring, melancholic ballad with a strong melodic core. It’s also worth noting the album’s drum production—highly compressed, bone-dry, and punchy, particularly on the faster tracks. The man behind the kit is none other than Thomas Götz of Beatsteaks fame, a seasoned collaborator of Abay’s via his other projects, Musa Dagh and FREINDZ.
Final verdict? There’s no mistaking the raw emotion and existential weight poured into these 42 minutes. This is a record that gets under your skin—dense, atmospheric, and deeply affecting. If you’ve followed Abay’s career, “Loves You” will feel like an essential new chapter.
Loves You is out now on IME Records – get it now as a digital download from Bandcamp, or on cd and vinyl + all the usual streaming places through this handy links page
No Body: Instagram
Aydo Abay: YouTube
Old Nobody: Facebook
Review by Jens Krueger
Keep up to date with all new content on Joyzine via our
Facebook / Threads / Instagram / Mailing List