On their fourth studio album, Forever, London four-piece The Big Moon embrace joy even when life has thrown a spanner in the works, delivering an indie-pop record that feels like a warm embrace right when you need it most.
Written after lead singer Juliette Jackson faced major ear surgery that left her with partial hearing loss, Forever could easily have drifted into melancholia. Instead, the band responds with defiance, crafting a bittersweet, euphoric collection of tracks that lean into pop hooks, vibrant disco-tinged rhythms, and sheer gratitude for the present moment.
Opening track “Gravity” sets a lush tone before shifting into the shimmering, carefree bounce of “Fun”, a slice of pure, sun-drenched escapism that feels tailor-made for summer festival fields. Elsewhere, “Sounds” offers one of the record’s most poignant moments, where Jackson reflects on the auditory details of life she refuses to take for granted.
The centrepiece of the album, however, is the superbly titled “You Remind Me That I’m Dying (And That It’s Good To Be Alive)”. It sums up the record’s ethos, stark vulnerability wrapped in an absolute banger of a chorus. Sophisticated harmonies and polished production mean the group’s classic jangle-pop edge has matured, sleeker, yet their signature charm and camaraderie remain entirely intact.
If there’s any minor flaw, it’s that the mid-album pacing occasionally softens its punch, trading high-energy anthems for slightly gentler textures. But these are small quibbles on a record that radiates this much heart.
Forever is proof that The Big Moon are masters at finding beauty in life’s fragile, chaotic corners. It’s vibrant, triumphant, and a timely reminder of why we fall in love with guitar music in the first place.
The post The Big Moon’s Forever: Finding Shimmer In The Cracks appeared first on Indie is not a genre.