It's a curious thing that it took me a very long time to get (to this day not fully) warmed up to the sound of Big|Brave's last regular work "A Chaos Of Flowers", even though the shows at A Colossal Weekend and on the MS Stubnitz in 2024, which featured the album's material, both were among my favorite concerts of that year.
Too much weird compression and vocal effects? Just something about the guitar sound? In hindsight it sounds like a turning point in the band's direction, because what challenged me back than is even more present on the latest release of the Canadian trio. This time however I was loving it immediately.
Too much weird compression and vocal effects? Just something about the guitar sound? In hindsight it sounds like a turning point in the band's direction, because what challenged me back than is even more present on the latest release of the Canadian trio. This time however I was loving it immediately.
BIG|BRAVE - In Grief Or In Hope (clear pink vinyl LP) (2026)
The opener "What May Be The Kindest Way To Leave" only needs seconds to establish that both the guitars and Robin Wattie's vocals on "In Grief And In Hope" are heavily processed and noisily distorted to a point beyond the just excessively ridiculous, where it somehow is a powerful artistic tool again, expressing distanced alienation and close emotional confrontation at the same time.
Maybe the production achieves what was intended already two years ago, but in order to function as brilliantly as it does now, a change of Big|Brave's musical direction had to occur, that hadn't been carried out yet.
So wait? It isn't austerely arranged Drone and Noise any more? Oh yes it, but there has been a crucial change in the band's lineup!
My Disco bass player and long time fourth touring member of Big|Brave Liam Andrews is an official part of the group on the album now, but apart from guest distributions by engineer/producer Seth Manchester on synth and Luc van Weelden on spring reverb box, this is still a trio recording, because there are no drums anymore.
And while it's still hard to imagine Big|Brave performing without Tasy Hudson in the back of the stage, I must admit that the band reaches a new level of both expressive tension and meditative immersion here, which further emphasizes the uniquity of their emotionally driven minimalist Drone Rock. And tracks like "An Uttering Of Antipathy" or "The Ineptitude For Mutual Discernement" can easily rival the highlights of their quickly crawling and growing discography.
What makes these pieces work as songs is of course not only the sheer accumulation of Industrial-spirited harsh guitar and electronic Noise, but the juxtaposition to the greatest melodic Pop appeal in the vocal performance the band has ever had.
"In Grief Or In Hope" truly unites the ugliest and most beautiful sides of Big|Brave in a daring and surprisingly successful simultaneity. It's a remarkable experience even for these artists' standards.
Once again released by Thrill Jockey, the record comes as a nice clear pink vinyl pressing (CDs and another sold out variant also exist) with lyrics on the inner sleeve and the probably stupid question What's that cover photo about? Is it a black trash can? The actually Black Lodge? Seriously, I need help here.
Maybe the production achieves what was intended already two years ago, but in order to function as brilliantly as it does now, a change of Big|Brave's musical direction had to occur, that hadn't been carried out yet.
So wait? It isn't austerely arranged Drone and Noise any more? Oh yes it, but there has been a crucial change in the band's lineup!
My Disco bass player and long time fourth touring member of Big|Brave Liam Andrews is an official part of the group on the album now, but apart from guest distributions by engineer/producer Seth Manchester on synth and Luc van Weelden on spring reverb box, this is still a trio recording, because there are no drums anymore.
And while it's still hard to imagine Big|Brave performing without Tasy Hudson in the back of the stage, I must admit that the band reaches a new level of both expressive tension and meditative immersion here, which further emphasizes the uniquity of their emotionally driven minimalist Drone Rock. And tracks like "An Uttering Of Antipathy" or "The Ineptitude For Mutual Discernement" can easily rival the highlights of their quickly crawling and growing discography.
What makes these pieces work as songs is of course not only the sheer accumulation of Industrial-spirited harsh guitar and electronic Noise, but the juxtaposition to the greatest melodic Pop appeal in the vocal performance the band has ever had.
"In Grief Or In Hope" truly unites the ugliest and most beautiful sides of Big|Brave in a daring and surprisingly successful simultaneity. It's a remarkable experience even for these artists' standards.
Once again released by Thrill Jockey, the record comes as a nice clear pink vinyl pressing (CDs and another sold out variant also exist) with lyrics on the inner sleeve and the probably stupid question What's that cover photo about? Is it a black trash can? The actually Black Lodge? Seriously, I need help here.
