Despite the arrival of Storm Brendan on Monday, Movida was packed upstairs for the arrival of London-based punk-pop band, The Big Moon. Playing a short set followed by a signing at Sound Knowledge in order to promote their new album, Walking Like We Do, the band offered a glimpse of their new material and old favourites before heading off on their UK tour supporting Bombay Bicycle Club, which starts on 20 January in Cambridge.
It was clear that The Big Moon have embraced a different musical direction from their 2017 debut. A grungy indie record with sonic influences from the likes of The Strokes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Love In The 4th Dimension was a solid punk-pop album which rightfully earned the band a place among indie’s rising stars. Their new effort seems to focus less heavily on pounding guitars and drums and instead leans towards a more electronic and sometimes piano-driven influence, leading to a more polished sound.
The band’s set at Movida was characterised by their solid harmonies and quirky lyrics; a highlight was Dog Eat Dog, in which frontwoman Juliette Jackson mournfully intones ‘Round here they say it’s dog eat dog but / It’s more like pigeon eating fried chicken on the street.’ Barcelona, another standout track, unexpectedly opened with an impromptu acoustic guitar and flute duet. What I can only describe as a melancholic sea shanty with attitude, Waves, was perhaps my favourite song of the evening.
It was overall a slightly more casual and subdued performance than I would have expected, given the typically high-energy nature of their music. However, their new musical direction reflects their adaptability and uniqueness, which is particularly needed in a male-dominated genre that is sometimes lacking in fresh, original material.
The Big Moons’ new album, Walking Like We Do, is currently available at Sound Knowledge.
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