The Big Pink - A Brief History Of Love Album Review

Review of The Big Pink's album A Brief History Of Love released through 4AD.

Despite only a handful of releases to date, London duo Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell aka The Big Pink have built up quite a buzz around the release of their debut album. Their name is a bit misleading - they have no Band or Bob Dylan-esque qualities to their music but rather mix 80s and 90s shoe-gazer influences with synth beats to produce their own bold unique sound.

Opener Crystal Visions builds slowly with crackling synths to a pulsating wall of sound and a feedback laced outro, letting you know exactly what to expect from the rest of the album. The distorted feedback drenched sound continues on Too Young To Love before a complete change with upcoming single Dominos. It is the most pop-like number on the album with an instantly memorable melody and infectious chorus - this one could well be a mainstream hit.

At War With The World is one of many stand out tracks with that layered, feedback drenched sound that so typifies the band, crooning vocal and sensitive lyrics. Previous single Velvet is another one. Mixed by Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine), his influence is evident and the result is fantastic. It's a huge number with a catchy melody underneath soaring vocals, a wall of guitar noise and programmed beats.

A Brief History Of Love is a big low tempo ballad that benefits from guest female vocals to create a mesmerising duet before the album closes with Countbackwards From Ten another slow burner.

And these tempo changes keep you guessing, The Big Pink's music is far from predictable. It is reminiscent of the best bits of the 90s indie scene but with the added depth of synths and the wall of guitar 'noise'. A Brief History Of Love is a brilliantly bold debut that would be an asset to any record collection - it will draw you in further with every listen.

4/5

Robyn Burrows