ALBUM REVIEW: BIG SPECIAL - O’JOY

Big Special’s latest album, ‘O’JOY’ gets us into the thought-provoking groove as West Midlands duo Joe Hickin and Callum Moloney craft the perfect blend of poignant lyricism and dynamic instrumentals, inviting us into their universe of Post-Punk, Folk, Rock, and Blues…just to name a few! In thirty minutes, Big Special delivers a sound so uniquely theirs, yet speaks to an entire nation as they relay themes of political turmoil, working class issues, and mental health through an incredibly raw and unfiltered lens, making ‘O’JOY’ not just an album, but a statement.

Photo credit: Isaac Watson @Whammoth

Listeners are immediately magnetised by a striking curiosity caused by eerie robotic voices delivered by male and female tones. While an unsettling void comes into play, we take residency in this world that Big Special have created, where ‘PLAINTIVE NATIVE’ begins to play. Starting as they mean to go on, Hickins’ powerful spoken word charges in, fueled by fury, fire, and ferocious lyrics. With his signature tone and authentic accent, he asks the questions and makes critiques that some may be too afraid to. Lyrics like, “What are you allowed to care about”, and, “Bring wisdom to the rich / And respite to the poor” brings austerity to the forefront, meanwhile tickles of a rustic guitar sound, an engulfing, buzzing bass, and the perfect dosage of distortion flow throughout the track.

Every word in O’JOY has purpose, all killer, no filler, where ‘THE WAKE’ especially proves the duo’s ability in taking colloquial language and transforming it into something poetic. Detailing the idea of death through images of a “buffet table” and a “vodka soda”, the lyric, “Can you stop putting fags out in the quiche please” is both humorous and highly effective in establishing the tracks suggestion of dealing with harsh problems, like death, in unproductive ways. The track extracts any kind of romanticism from the harsh realities of life, while also being enigmatic. The lyrics address the death of “it”, and ‘THE WAKE’ is much shorter compared to other tracks on the record, producing a strong allurement that is completed by the solemn Folk backdrop.

Further tracks like ‘ONLY FREE WHEN SLEEPING’, ‘SLUGLIFE’, and, ‘HOTEL’ are bursting with this genre-bending, musical hybridity that Big Special embodies. Guitars are used to their full ability and beyond, while percussive elements keep us on our toes with their ever changing style and rhythm. Synths are unassuming assassins where one moment they are a zen ambience, the next they stab straight in, often arriving with a somewhat extra-terrestrial, otherworldly sound. Vocally, ‘DRAGGED UP A HILL (and thrown down the other side)’ stands out as Hickins’ angst and passion comes to its breaking point, steering far away from spoken word. 

‘O’JOY’ is an experience, a moment, and a voice as Big Special blends nuanced messages with a raw and real musical treat!