Big Ups - Two Parts Together

Brooklyn noisemakers Big Ups embrace the idea of duality with third record, ‘Two Parts Together’, as they expand the elements of their post-hardcore sound while sticking with the merits of their loud-quiet-loud template.

The self-titled opening track embodies this theme entirely, with a verse that borrows a style of drawling spoken word and discordant guitar melodies reminiscent of Pavement. A wrecking ball chorus of screeching distortion and wails of “I just wanted to know how you would feel” then provides a devastating foil.

A propulsive beat fuels the distorted schisms of ‘In The Shade’, before ‘Trying To Love’ takes a Peter Hook-style bass line, transforming it with the use of rattling percussion, ominous feedback and a male/female vocal mantra to create a hypnotic trance. This psychedelic touch is revisited again on ‘Fear’, as washy guitars and a barely intelligible spoken word track drifts along in the track’s alluring, spiralling outro. The repeated use of jarring time signatures and staccato rhythms give the album a sense of unease on the whole.

Totalling eight songs and clocking in at just over 30 minutes, ‘Two Parts Together’ feels surprisingly well-rounded and complete, with strange journeys taking place within each track, and enough crunch to keep things exciting right up to its thundering climax.