Big Blood & Thunder Crutch - Big Blood & Thunder Crutch (2018, Donāt Trust The Ruin)
A1LĀ Ā Ā Ā (13/12/2018)
Not what I was expecting having heard a few Big Blood releases before this (Iām unfamiliar with the work of Thunder Crutch). Thereās definitely traces of Big Blood in there and I can hear it from time to time, but wherever the blend of these two begins and ends is new to me.
The looseness of the albumās tracklisting reminds me of Broadcast/Focus Group in theirĀ Investigate Witch Cults Of The Radio AgeĀ album, where you sort of drift through each track a bit like a guided fever dream. The divisions are a little stronger on this one, but it hardly feels these recordings were made to be listened to in any other context. Good first impression.
A2LĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā (14/12/2018)
Delving back into it again still feels unlike what I expected. Props to this lot for striking a healthy balance between pop music and full blown experimental tinkering/improvisation. Thatās probably what gives it the looseness I was talking about earlier. Sure thereās some stylistic elements similar to Broadcast/The Focus Group - the squelching bleeps and bloops of a synth and dizzying rhythms - but above all the intent here is what gives me the aforementioned impression.
Sidenote, Underneath He Is A GirlĀ comes in so satisfyingly. Oof.
I guess thatās what I mean when I think about the balance between experimental and pop. I mean, even the pop moments are experimental, but thereās hardly any seams in the transition. It isnāt likeĀ āoh letās put a feedback loop for nothing else other than to set up this trackā - both the experimentation and the standard composition are of equal importance to and beside each other.
Thereās even a The Residents-type air to some of these tracks (like on Make Way and Sweaty Pants). I wonder if thatās by the influence of Thunder Crutch?
The songs I come away from the album loving the most are the few tracks that could stand alone, which doesnāt seem fair to its scope though could help to dive in as an outsider - tracks like Underneath He Is A Girl, Sing For What Itās Worth, State Of Science...Ā My housemate pointed out some of these even have a PJ Harvey edge to them. Think Let England Shake. Makes sense.
Iāve gotta say, I probably enjoy this album less on a second listen. Part of that may be due to the fact I felt getting through the whole thing as a bit of a chore once it got to midway through Wall Eye. I got up and did some other things, and sat back down and possibly broke the mood. Perhaps this is more of a lay down and digest album. More updates soon.
