The new music onslaught from Big Deal is starting to build for the release of their second album, June Gloom, and the recent announcement of their latest single, In Your Car, progresses on the heavier sound of their other recent preview track, Teradactol. Set for release on the 22nd April 2013, with the album out later on the 3rd June, the new single brings more darkened tones from Kacey Underwood and Alice Constelloe.
Combining 80s alt pop with modern indie rock ‘n’ roll and psych riffs, it gives the band more of a wall of noise in comparison to the stripped back approach from their first album, Lights Out. It’s off kilter and out of step, so inevitably we like it a lot. Firm influencer nods have got to go to Veronica Falls, whose Rory Atwell worked with the band to record Teradactol.
The vocals are as strong as ever for Big Deal, with Costelloe leading the way and Underwood’s downcast undercurrents acting as drone to her throaghty blues in pop minor. The lyrics talk of the type of epic road trips that you only really get in the States. The song was written by Alice while the band were driving down the Californian coast, so there’s a real San Francisco meets Big Sur sound to the single.
The drums and guitar are big beasts throughout the song, but the highlight has got to be the psych riff and solo that brings a real rush to the track. Drive filled, dark corners of the verse give way to a sunshine chorus that’s old school indie pop through and through, making the track the missing link between pop and rock. Costelloe’s softer edges are surrounded by a sturdy grit that makes the song so listenable.
The move from a simple two peace recording duo to a more expansive soundscape seems to be the new direction the band are going in, but whatever, it sounds good. Plus, there’s bound to be a few more stripped back tracks on June Gloom for fans of Lights Out.
Big Deal has also got a couple of UK gigs in the diary for 2013, taking their new 4 piece arrangement to Liverpool Sound City on the 4th May and the YO1 Festival on the 5th May. More dates will be announced shortly, so watch this space. If the big sounds of Teradactol and In Your Car are anything to go by, the live dates are going to be Spectoralific (noise, not guns and bad hair!).
Big Deal, In Your Car review: 4.1/5
