Big Deal - Lights Out

by Anthony Strutt

published: 10 / 10 / 2011

Label: Mute Records
Format: CD

Charming debut album from harmony-laden London-based male and female two-piece, Big Deal

Review

Big Deal are London-based duo Alice Costelloe and KC Underwood. ‘Lights Out', their debut album, opens with ‘Distant Neighborhood’, which is a rocky electric strummed number that has the warmth of a summer's day and is absolutely charming. It is a perfect pick me up. On ‘Chair’ both Alice and KC’s vocals melt into one another. This track is vaguely like the Jesus and Mary Chain, but it's a much more acceptable and not so abrasive - possibly the Jesus and Mary Chain for the Coldplay generation. ‘Cool like Kurt’ is a marriage of two vocals and acoustic guitar, a perfect slice of charming pop which soon speeds up. ‘Swoon’ is as graceful, lovely and gentle as early Mojave 3 upon which Alice and KC’s voices again just melt into each other. ‘Homework’ pushed KC’s vocals to the front of the mix and is reminiscent of Mazzy Star in its acoustics. ‘Talk' is another rocker with honey sweet vocals that melts on the ears. ‘Wish the World at My Feet’ rocks gently with electric guitars while ‘Locked Up’ is edgier in its sound sound. ‘Summer Cold’ is stripped right down and as lovely as Mojave 3 on a Nick Drake trip. ‘Visions’ is a fast but easy-on-the-ear rocker, with lyrics that make the sun shine brighter even if it is wet. ‘Seraphine’ is even paced with louder guitars that don't drown out the soft but sharp vocals. ‘PI’ ends the album and is the most haunting track here, slowly delivered in a gentle fashion. ‘Light Out’ shines very brightly. It is a fantastic album.

Track Listing:-

1 Distant Neigborhood
2 Chair
3 Cool Like Kurt
4 Swoon
5 Homework
6 Talk
7 With The World At My Feet
8 Locked Up
9 Summer Cold
10 Visions
11 Seraphone
12 Pi