Profligate's 2018 full-length
Somewhere Else was a major step up for the artist, distilling contemplations on desire and isolation into sophisticated darkwave pop songs enhanced by carefully controlled noise eruptions. 2020's
Too Numb to Know is a further refinement, with far less of the harsh electronic elements of the project's earlier work, shorter song lengths, and a greater presence of acoustic and electric instrumentation. Recorded over several years as
Noah Anthony relocated from Philadelphia to Los Angeles to Cleveland, the album's songs reflect his numerous life changes, signaling growth and maturity, yet retain the mysterious qualities that made his past work so intriguing. The lyrics are clearly stated but far from obvious and often quite cryptic, leaving much open to interpretation. Generally, they appear to be about deception, uncertainty, and emotional disconnection, as well as persistent failure to reach love and understanding. While tracks such as "Mask" and "Tula" have more inventive, complex rhythms, others are more direct and urgent, such as the racing synth pop of "Hang Up" and "No Clear Way." "A Little Rain" starts out with a sparse, knocking beat and a feeling of hollowness, then gradually blooms into something more tender, with a lusher arrangement and guest vocals by
Gel Set's
Laura Callier. "We Can Punish" is a strange puzzle of noise sweeps and knotty rhythms, yet somehow landing at one of the album's most memorable hooks. Two of the most danceable cuts are saved for the end. "Just a Few Things Wrong" features
Whitney Johnson's viola cleverly melting into a synth line over a propulsive beat, while "A Stranger" edges into harder and more provocative territory.