WORDS DESH KAPUR
BIG SPECIAL
POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES
Big Special, a duo consisting of Joe Hicklin and Callum Maloney, have released their debut album titled “POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES“. This powerful northern post-punk record has a socially perceptive twist, and is delivered with biting sarcasm that can only come from working-class northern countrymen.
Joe Hicklin’s delivery is like that of a preacher from a pulpit, spitting out his words with hypnotic force. Callum Maloney’s unembellished groove on drums and synths adds to the hypnotic effect, leaving the listener hanging on to every word and beat.
The album’s first track, “Black Country Gothic”, has a pounding drum intro, synths, and a mixture of spoken word before Joe shows off his brilliant singing voice. The whole record is a mish-mash of poetry, trip-hop, pumping basslines, and brilliant drumming, wrapped up in a northern punk ethos. It is honest and confronting.
“Shithouse” is still my favorite track because it was the first one I heard, and it made me wonder WTF is this. It also has a contender for “lyric of the year” with “Frocks smocks and two smokin’ Beryl’s”. so good.
The defining characteristic of the songs on “Postindustrial Hometown Blues” is the use of spoken word as a delivery platform. The lyrics cover a range of subjects, including family, mental health, the state of Britain, the state of the world, poverty, greed, and more. Each subject is hammered home with brutal honesty, and it hits you hard and fast. The music is equally genius, with Callum Maloney’s drumming and electronic sounds and synth works driving the record without drowning out Joe’s cutting words. I love this record and Big Special’s sound. They have something to say, and if you don’t listen…..they will batter you musically until you do…….
10 / 10
TRACK LISTING
01. BLACK COUNTRY GOTHIC
02. I MOCK JOGGERS
03. DESPERATE BREAKFAST
04. SHITHOUSE
05. THIS HERE AIN’T WATER
06. MY SHAPE (BLOCKING THE LIGHT)
07. BLACK DOG / WHITE HORSE
08. BROADCAST: TIME AWAY
09. ILL.
10. MONGREL
11. BUTCHER’S BIN
12. DUST OFF / START AGAIN
13. TREES
14. FOR THE BIRDS
15. DiG!
LIVE DATES
May 7 | District, Liverpool
May 8 | The Key Club, Leeds
May 9 | XOYO, Birmingham
May 10 | King Tuts, Glasgow
May 12 | Strange Brew, Bristol
May 16 Jazz Café, London
May 17 | Horatio’s, Brighton – The Great Escape Festival
May 18 | Deaf Institute, Manchester
May 22 | Ulster Sports Bar, Belfast
May 26 | Bearded Theory Festival, Derbyshire
Jul 28 | Latitude Festival, Suffolk
Aug 23 | Reading Festival, Reading
Aug 24 | Leeds Festival, Leeds
FOLLOW BIG SPECIAL
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
