BIG SPECIAL - 'BUTCHER'S BIN'
One of the biggest presence emerging from the soundscapes of underground punk are back again today with their next single, BUTCHER'S BIN, ahead of their highly-anticipated debut POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES, which is expected to land in May this year.
Uncompromising duo BIG SPECIAL meld together lacerating lyricism with an synth-assertive backdrop that mark them as a pairing to keep a close eye on this year. Their all-encompassing alternative works explore the bleak and beautiful honesty of a nation in rapid decline.
The journey started with THIS HERE AIN'T WATER which like many, linked the duo's likeness to Baxter Dury and The Streets for their supple ease to bring together such wordy craftsmanship swirled together with addictive, electronic hooks. The next journey comes with BUTCHER'S BIN, a dowsing of wriggly synths and a host of powerful words addressing the struggle of working-class artists breaking into the Arts.
Evoking imagery from the butcher’s floor singer Joe Hicklin likens himself to “a fresh bouquet of limbs”, looked upon “like I’ve been granted some strange favour” for pushing ahead with the precarious lifestyle of a musician. It feeds into an existence often trivialised at the expense of the individual in a capitalist society. It's highly emotive, extremely vulnerable - and a dish of cold, hard truths that we need to devour into. If it's a sign of things to come from an equally highly-strung debut, then May cannot come soon enough.
Make no mistake - the duo aren't here to offer answers with their work. It's just an honest expression of common struggles that we all bear witness to.
With the single announcement, comes one of their biggest UK headline show to date at London's The Forum later this year. Mark your calendars - POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES is set for release on 10th May via SO Recordings.
Words by Alex Curle
