Big Deal - June Gloom
by Dave Goodwin
published: 14 / 7 / 2013
Label:
Mute Records
Format: CD
intro
Fabulous second album from impressive Californian-London indie rock duo, Big Deal
So, what can I tell you about Big Deal then? Well, they like ice cream! They have over ten thousand likes on Facebook. And they have recorded for themselves a tidy little album here too. Big Deal, which consists of Kacey Underwood (guitar, vocals) and Alice Costelloe (vocals, guitar), now release their second album, ‘June Gloom’. It follows on from 2011's debut 'Lights Out', where it seems they succeeded in closing a few mouths after receiving a phenomenal amount of criticism pre-release. There certainly seems a lack of Big Deal information out there which can only fuel the intrigue into the pair’s relationship. That album was full of love lost lyrics about broken relationships. So much so that apparently many mistook Underwood and Costelloe as a couple. 'June Gloom' is a slight move upward from the last with the inclusion of drums and bass guitar, which gives a depth to the indie sound they have comfortably generated. The first track 'Golden Lights' lulls the listener into a false sense of security, with a single guitar riff slowly moving on to what ends in a crashing opening offering. . The first single from the album, 'In Your Car', has a more rocking sound, with its waspish swarming guitars building towards an infectious end. ‘June Gloom’ is very much a continuation on the themes of the first , putting a lot of emphasis on romantic nostalgia, no more so than on the crashing guitar jaunt of 'Call And I’ll Come'. It is not all crash and bang though. The duo show off a fine talent for slow numbers with the strangely haunting but slightly angry 'Pillow', and the marvellous 'Pristine' with the acoustic guitar given some air a little further in. But it is not long before we are treated to their trademark scuzzy guitars and racing drum beats on tracks such as 'Teradactol'. Big Deal have progressed from that first album and seem to be on the right path. The Ting Tings got somewhere with their boy-girl sound, but somehow they were not taken seriously enough to stand the test of time. This outing should strengthen the foundations already laid by the pair, and also give them a ladder to the next platform. It will be worth waiting to see if they decide to step up to it.
Track Listing:-
1 Golden Light2 Swapping Spit
3 In Your Car
4 Dream Machines
5 Call and I'll Come
6 Teradactol
7 Pristine
8 Pillow
9 Catch Up
10 Little Dipper
11 PG
12 Close Your Eyes
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/weareabigdeal/http://bigdealjunegloom.sandbaghq.com/
https://twitter.com/wearebigdeal
Label Links:-
http://mute.com/https://www.facebook.com/muterecords
https://twitter.com/MuteUK
https://www.youtube.com/user/themutechannel
live reviews |
Rainbow, Birmingham, 14/6/2013 |
Sarah Mwangi watches Californian/London-based pop rock group Big Deal play a lethargic and uninspiring set at the Rainbow in Birmingham |
reviews |
Lights Out (2011) |
Charming debut album from harmony-laden London-based male and female two-piece, Big Deal |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Elliott Murphy - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesPhilip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Jules Winchester - The Journey
Deep Purple - =1
Bill Wyman - Drive My Car
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Popstar - Obscene
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart