Based in Cardiff, Big Thing allegedly met in Bargain Booze and bonded over low-price wine, dips and shared musical sensibilities. It is unclear how much of an influence the first two factors play in the formation and maintenance of the band, though the latter is strong enough so as to guide them toward a big, bold brand of shoegaze that is shot through with poppy streaks. The result is something soaring and atmospheric yet accessible too, joining other contemporary bands like Basement Revolver in a new vein of shoegaze that is happy to lean toward other genres and influences.
Big Thing, AKA Jen (guitar/vocals), Dan (guitar/vocals), Jonny (drums) and Matt (bass), released their first single ‘Longbeach’ a few months back, a bright and breezy track that certainly leaned toward the pop end of the spectrum, the summery title going some way to suggesting the cool, carefree rhythm that made the song. However, the evocative vocals and atmospheric dips in tempo hinted at another side to the band too, with the emotive chops to back up the sense of luminous motion.
Today we’re really happy to share a new single, ‘Spin’. The song is altogether heavier and squally, the relaxed momentum from the previous single swapped out for a feedback-laden grind, a dense wall-of-noise upon which the vocals surf. The drums don’t so much float on the noise as rise through it, like bubbles rising staccato through a cloudy carbonated drink, though every so often they kick into tight sequences that drive the intensity and feeling of the track. Take a listen for yourself:
‘Spin’ is out on the 27th July via Phwoar and Peace. You can grab their previous single, ‘Longbeach,’ here.