Releasing pretty much exactly a year on from their last EP Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time, A Living You’ll Never Know feels like the natural progression of the locked-in introspective emo stylings of their last body of work. However, that’s not to say that this new EP is just more of the same or just an exercise in standard continuation from the band. With a deliberate focus on presenting shifting time signatures, advanced song structure sand a more combative approach both lyrically and musically, this inspired new record see’s Big Hug flexing their musical muscles without compromising their warm and delightful nature.
Following the pleasant instrumental interlude of ‘Pyrrhic Opposites’, leading single ‘Cruellemonde De La Hi Fi’ springs to life with equal parts zest and bitterness. Whilst the track may document utterly unfulfilling day jobs – a subject that no doubt many of us will resonate with – it sweetly presents Big Hug’s dexterous approach to modern emo and indie. As the single draws thoughts of The Weakerthans whilst still being carrying that sense of modern progression found within Big Hug’s contemporaries such as such as Pillow Fort, Lakes, and Jumper Boy, the track perfectly encapsulates Big Hug’s lovable nature. Much like a great big cuddle, it’s warm, slightly nostalgic, but still timelessly energising.
The proceeding ‘Nothing Changes’ is where the growth the band have experienced over the last year is most evident though. Whilst ‘Cruellemonde De La Hi Fi’ is host to mathy fretwork aplenty, it’s here where the band’s newfound focus on shifting time signatures and more considered dynamics take proper centre stage. As the sparkling central riff of the track snakes, coils and flexes across the track in a manner that hosts thoughts of TTNG, Delta Sleep and emo pioneers American Football, Big Hug jump and dive from one time signature to another in a that’s frantic, yet organically composed. All of this comes to a head with the bellowed yet cathartic climax of the song, a somewhat dramatic decompression of the frustration that comes with the frustration of living in the mire that is this stagnant country. It’s undoubtedly the band’s most overt and upfront work to date, but to say that it’s obnoxious or even aggressive would be misleading. Yes, it’s somewhat combative, but not in fashion that’s threatening; instead it’s the natural reaction to being stuck in the purgatory that is the UK circa 2024 and a song created by a band that desire to push themselves as creatives and to elicit an understanding response from those in the same mindset.
As the final track ‘Gary On Earth’ further attests to to this whilst reflecting upon the culturally embedded cruelty towards those seeking safe harbour in the UK, this is the sound of a band achieving their goal of pushing themselves in order to make something truly interesting and evocative. By forgoing the introspection of their last EP in favour of documenting the lonely, depressing and sometimes hostile existence a lot of us are enduring right now through intentionally engaging song structures and craft, these modern emo starlings have created a record that’s dynamic, interesting but still wholly comforting. It’s impossible not to fall into the arms of A Living You’ll Never Know, and much like the real thing, Big Hug is certainly something a lot of us need right now.