The Big Pink – A Brief History of Love

The Big Pink, the duo comprised of Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell, are no newbies to the music scene. Not only did Furze play guitar for Alec Empire, both have run their own record labels; with Cordell’s Merok Records releasing early work from the likes of Titus Andronicus, Klaxons, and Crystal Castles. They are good friends with British pop star Lily Allen, and they have even had British singer-songwriter Jack Peñate as a lodger in their house. No real surprise, then, that the BBC featured The Big Pink as one of 2009’s “most likely breakout acts”.

Released on independent label, 4AD, A Brief History of Love was recorded predominantly by the multi-instrumentalist band mates, but also features guest appearances from William Rees (Mystery Jets), Jo Apps (sister of Patrick Wolf), and Jamie Reynolds (Klaxons), whose individual influence is evident with the breadth of song type across the album; sounds range from crowd-chantingly anthemic to dark, dreary and brooding – usually via strong shoegaze influences.

Recent single (also featured during the band’s Spotify advert, and used by the XBox 360 for their television spots) “Dominos” falls confidently and proudly into the “crowd-chantingly anthemic” category. Instantly, drum beats cause uncontrollable violent head-nodding over distorted guitar work and general din, soon followed by the sing-along “oohs” and “aahs”, before the lead line bursts from the noise-filled void. “These girls fall like Dominos” chants the lead vocalist in repeated affirmation, over the top of the dirty, droning synth and the again distorted guitar, for which they owe so much to the shoegaze scene of the late ’80s and ’90s. “As soon as I love her it’s been too long/ Talks of future with you caves me in” he continues, before the huge chorus is upon us once more. It truly is huge; anthemic shoegaze is something to be enjoyed.

Indeed, the term “shoegaze” seems to be making a comeback; with The Big Pink definitely contributing to this revival. It would be fair to say that the two-some sound quite a lot like The Jesus and Mary Chain, with other evident influences being the likes of My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. But is being heavily influenced by bands of these statures such a terrible thing? I say “nay”. It pleases me that such a fantastic genre, indeed such fantastic bands, may be discovered through listening to newer acts such as The Big Pink and The XX, especially considering said acts have not imitated, but have created something that they can claim as “their own.”

Through also mixing in hints of industrial rock (ala Nine Inch Nails, of course), and even more modern genres like drum and bass (with the prominent use bass-snare combos), The Big Pink have constructed tracks through materials that are seldom used together so effectively, tat also appeals to the yung as well as the old who remember it the first time round.

It is not only through the medium of “huge” songs that the band confers about girls, love, and the lack of; these are somewhat recurring themes throughout the diverse album. “Love In Vain” is a significantly more slow-paced effort, with a more calming, yet still lyrically strong, effect. “If you really love him/ tell me that you love him again,” begs the vocalist repeatedly. String accompaniment adds to the somber, almost depressed, feel of the vocals, with cleaner guitar notes, but still an undertone of noise from the bass.

Penultimate track “Tonight” cracks the metronome up once more, featuring a Muse-esque shaking guitar intro and another Dominos like chant-along chorus “Tonight you take a part of my life.” Closing track “Count Backwards from Ten”, featuring ‘vibes’ from Klaxons’ Jamie Reynolds, ends the album on a more delicate note from the London-based multi-instrumentalists, with “ooh”-ing female backing vocals, along the lines of My Bloody Valentine, accompanying the slow-paced but powerfully delivered lead vocals.

Yes, they sound like The Jesus and Mary Chain, yes they are annoyingly catchy, and yes this is an album that I can highly recommend.

Related posts:

1. Citified – Absence EP
2. Githead-Landing

Tagged as: Alternative Rock, London, Shoegaze

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