The Big Moon takes it this week with a very creditable score.
Matt
PVA - discordant electronica that with tracks that blurred into each other. 4.
Boston Manor - muscular thoughtful dance/rock. 6
The Big Moon - the greatest depth of this week's four. Confident, intelligent indie. 7.5
The Reds, Pinks and Purples - I liked their last album but this managed to be twee, depressing and tedious. 4
TOTW Trouble, The Big Moon
Andy
PVA - This was a lot, some of it was pretty uninspiring but when they went a bit NIN style industrial it got pretty interesting. Doesn't quite all stick together 5.5
Boston Manor - Right up my street this, big sounds throughout. Floodlights on the Square a serious totw contender 7.5
The Big Moon - First go round it felt a bit of a letdown after their debut but a couple more spins and it really got into the groove still not quite eclipsing that first record 7.5
The Reds, Pinks and Purples - Wishy washy stuff that never really took off 5
TotW - Ladye Bay for off of The Big Moon
The Enemy - I've always been pretty fond of this album despite the vocals being objectively bad. The sum of the parts makes a whole bunch of cracking Jam style anthems though so it's a winner 7.5
Guy
PVA - I was a bit disappointed with this. Despite the hype (on their own Spotify bio), it was really pretty flat and never really got going. Felt like it might go a bit LCD Soundsystem at points but never quite made it - 5
Boston Manor - Perfectly serviceable rock music but not something I'll probably listen to again. In the old days, they'd have filled a slot on Sunday afternoon at Reading and provided backing music to my pints by the right hand beer tent - 6
The Big Moon - I'm a big fan of this lot and I loved the first album but found this a generally weaker offering. Trouble is a tune and if they had more of these, it'd have scored higher. Still takes my album of the week - 7
The Reds, Pinks and Purples - I quite enjoyed this. His voice grates a bit and it's on the slower side but nice acoustic guitar and fitting soundtrack to a walk around Bushy Park with the dogs on a misty morning - 6.9
TOTW - Trouble by The Big Moon
The Enemy - A superb debut album this. So many bangers. Slightly front loaded album but even the later tracks are excellent. I'm also swayed by the fact they are so good to watch live too. Rarely see a crowd rocking out so much. 9.2
Justin
PVA - another quite challenging electronic album but the acid squelch grew on me over multiple listens 7.2
Boston Manor - interesting and different. Liked the stranger songs like shelter from the rain. 6.9
The Big Moon - could really get into despite it not being unpleasant to listen. A couple of good tunes like high & low 6.7
The Reds, Pinks and Purples - a bit too slow indie for me but good Xmas song 6.5
TOTW PVA Bad Dad
The Enemy We'll Live and Die in These Towns. Seen them live but never listened to the album. Liked it, plenty of jam style bangers. Lesser bands have gone further.
Simon
PVA: ambitious and compelling - an inventive smorgasbord of electronica from industrial to ambient, underpinned by great vocals. An excellent debut album. 8
Boston Manor: liked their previous album and this was a decent listen as well, solid if not particularly distinctive. 7.5
The Big Moon: wouldn't normally gravitate towards this style but the songwriting is of a high standard and 2 Lines is a great opener. 7.8
The Reds, Pinks and Purples: dreary and forgettable - the sort of stuff that gives JJ a bad name. 4.5
The Enemy: the title track sounds so like the Jam it's uncanny - good album though. 7.5
TotW: PVA - The Individual
Jim
PVA 8.5
Love it love it. For me, the Electronic album of the year so far. Wonderful mix of old school bleepy acid house and industrial techno whilst sounding original and fresh. Bunker, Individual, Bad Dad, Transit, Soap - all absolute bangers. Reminded me of the awesome Justice - Cross, Faithless as well at times. Would have gone down well at a post Gents Day Fabric session. And yet another 3 letter band to the collection
Boston Manor 7
Solid rock, that has enough variety to rise it slightly above the packed arena they reside in. Didn't get my attention as much as perhaps they deserved.
The Big Moon 8
Excellent work and I thought a step or 2 up from their debut. I've got more into the more subtle folk tinged indie through our adventure, and this offering along with Liz Lawrence is up with the best. Shades of Fleetwood Mac in Trouble, which was a defo TOTW contender.
The Reds, Pinks and Purples 5.5
Just a bit dull, amplified by the varied and original company it kept this week
TOTW PVA Bad Dad , just edges out Bunker
Mark
PVA - ace bit of squelchy acid house, a welcome break from all the other guitar stuff this week - 7.5
Boston Manor - I don't really go a bundle on this sort of Enter Shikari / Lincoln Park sound, and so this wasn't for me - 5
The Big Moon - I thought this was an excellent album, nice Nico/Lorde/Wolf Alice stylings, and several TOTW contenders. Unlike others, I rate it higher than their previous effort. Have played it a lot this week and wish I'd seen them in Kingston last week - 8
Reds, Pinks & Purples - this kind of lo-fi shuffling C86 style jingle jangle is my cup of tea, although it does grate a little at times and his vocal isn't the best - 6.5
TOTW - Trouble by The Big Moon
Erol
PVA - a bit patchy and inconsistent in places (like the glue can be). But there are a good few dark and dirty bangers on here such as Bad Dad and Transit, which are best listened to at full volume. So it gets a firm thumbs up from me. 7.4
Boston Manor - this was right up my strasse. Reminiscent of Bring me the Horizon and Nothing but Thieves in their sound and approach. Shame the album was so short. Happy to listen to more of this. 7.6
The Big Moon - this was great. Strong indie throughout, so much so that I listened to it multiple times over the weekend. I must listen to their earlier album. 8
The Reds, Pinks and Purples - too wish washy for me, I’m afraid. All the tracks sounded basically the same. And the Christmas song was irritating. 4.5
TOTW- Wide Eyes by the Big Moon.
Sam
PVA : smart , angsty modern dance music . Nice work. 7.5
Boston Manor : was it mentioned we saw them at Reading 2021 ? I gave them a 9 ! No idea why it’s so short but it’s good . 7.4
The Big Moon : lovely voice , delicious mix of indie and Americana. 7.6
Reds, pinks , purples : who is this aimed at ? Why was it made ? Odd . 5
Tune of the week : Bunker by PVA
The Enemy : Good choice , full of life . You’re not alone is a stone cold indie banger . Solid album. 8
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