BIG SPECIAL - O’JOY

On ‘O’JOY’, BIG SPECIAL have returned with tracks that may have fallen through the cracks on the way to their recent meteoric releases, but mark a rawer, more disillusioned tone than usual. An EP that explores both the breadth and depth of the Black Country duo’s sonic experimentalism, opener ‘PLAINTIVE NATIVE’ blends their usual socially and politically-laden lyricism with a metallic clanging of an industrial soundscape. ‘Only Free When Sleeping’ pulls from a similar urge of commentary, with tense, snappy drums leading into a discordant atmosphere of pointed escapism. ‘LAZARUS’, meanwhile, has a more mainstream feel; oozing self confidence and tight production, its driving beat leads into a chorus dominated by Callum Moloney’s drums. ‘THE WAKE’ takes Joe Hicklin’s previous vocal backseat into a raw stage of vivid spoken word, only complimented with occasional splashes of instrumental colouring.


‘FAMILY BONES’ then turns away from the rawness for a bit, with a synth-heavy bassline hook and electronic drums that lead into a wall of sound punctuated by Hicklin’s usual spoken-word poetry. ‘GARDEN OF BONES’ enjoys a stripped-back, tense atmosphere that feels like a modern-day societal eulogy teetering between a call to battle and abject defeatism, before ‘DRAGGED UP A HILL (and thrown down the other side)’ sonically takes another step back, pushing Hicklin’s pensive vocals to the forefront with elements of folk. Finally, closer ‘HOTEL’ starts with a comical intro - and an unexpected summer anthem tone - with occasional explosions of a distorted guitar bringing us back to the classic BIG SPECIAL feel.