At fifteen minutes seven seconds, ‘The Big E’ introduces ‘Laughing Party’ with an unusual tactic of daring – perhaps laborious – qualities. It takes a dedicated fan to appreciate an opening this long.
To the bands earned credit, ‘Half-American’ and ‘Happy’ prove to be the albums highlights, providing the record with substance as opposed to noise and lyrics stuck together with pritt-stick. The catchy introductions and relaxed mainstream indie vibes are commercially brilliant. Despite having made music together since school however, at times the band struggles to fully maintain the balance of all their layered technical elements. But when they succeed, they’re onto a winner – especially in ‘Happy’. The somewhat retro and 70s inspired backing track is refreshing in contrast to the dense harmonies from Simm and Theedom that can at times sounds stifled.
If short and direct opening bars are craved in today’s music scene, ‘It Hugs Back’ hasn’t been taking notes. Several tunes could easily have a shorter build up with an equal – or even better – outcome and maintain interest long enough to reach a chorus or two.
Their sound is full, developed and mature and yet, there are still major areas of unpredictable and almost random riffs covering other riffs, specifically in ‘Sit Tight’ and ‘Strange Noise’. There’s a mix of easy listening tracks for a lazy day teamed with the ‘experimental’, potentially satisfying every ear. Overall, it either results in an array of musical mess or simply genius.