According to all girl punk-rock band The Big Moon, The 4th Dimension is a mythological dimension, an astro-plane located a few miles above ours. Strange, beautiful plasticine things exist there. Love exists there. And we believe them – the British four-piece band that’s been making waves in the indie-sphere create a quirky and believably vivid narrative with their debut album, Love in the 4th Dimension.
The Big Moon’s hearty, blazing sound sews together the remnants of the Libertines-esque 2000’s indie rock revolution and 90’s riot grrrl (they cite Bikini Kill as a vocal influence) and wraps them in a polished, Britpop-infused modernity. Thrashing guitars duel over punky drum hits under Juliette Jackson’s chesty, emotive voice. And what a voice – on “Sucker,” Jackson dances agilely between a low, rich growl to a higher, sweeter timbre. The blazing shout with which Jackson delivers the line “but I wouldn’t change my mind” matches the unlikely energy of her fervently tender croon of “I’m a sucker for you.”
The album showcases the versatility of the four-piece: the band maneuvers deftly between flaming, chesty guitar-riffs to gentler, saccharine carefully-constructed harmonies. Their musicality isn’t limited to instrument: witty lyrics elevate the album’s edge. Cupid is about a guy drinking pineapple juice, or tropical Rubicon courage, so his man juice tastes better when he romances a lady. (Does that actually work? Street checked for you.)
Title track Love in the Fourth Dimension ends with the bittersweet lyric “These worldly words would never suffice.” It’s a good thing we have The Big Moon’s fantastically otherworldly ones.
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