Review: BIG|BRAVE ‘A Chaos Of Flowers’
With the world we now live in, it is incredibly hard to stumble upon anything which can truly be classed as unique. No matter what the situation, to bare witness to something which is both breathtaking and distinctively different is an absolute marvel to behold, a statement which is especially true with music.
The airwaves are saturated with second rate, lowest common denominator drivel, or we are constantly bombarded with watered down imitations of the hits of previous decades. The pedestrian radio stations that have a heavy rotation of dross are in part to blame, but so too is an industry built on five-minute wonders.
Where actual art and creativity have become a rarity, and it is only once in every blue moon something magical shows up, to imprint its vision onto us all. Unfortunately, this will go largely unnoticed, but for those inquisitive enough to delve deeper, there are some absolute pariahs out there, brave enough to push against the conformity of the mundane and reach for a higher goal than their five second superstardom.
One such band that survive on their own terms are BIG|BRAVE, and I have had the absolute honour of being able to review the Canadian trio’s latest offering, A Chaos Of Flowers, in an attempt to muster a response which is far more enticing than conforming to the belief that music today is disposable and forgettable.
Comprising of eight magnificent, awkwardly beautiful musical expressions, this album isn’t for the faint hearted. It’s a brutally uncomfortable listen at times, and just like always with the band, its sheer primal density can still enrapture the listener with its jagged beauty.
On record, they are just as exhilarating as they are live, and having seen the band perform before, it feels like they literally tear down the walls of sanity, drag us in to this ambient nightmare, before thrusting forth a surge of raw emotional outpouring. It is perfectly designed to cause unease and generate a spiritual response.
Pioneers in their own environment, BIG|BRAVE have mastered their art, and with A Chaos Of Flowers I believe they have reached a pinnacle for which lesser bands can only dream of aspiring to.
The feeling of total destruction at any moment are rife throughout, yet the restraint can be felt deep within…
It is also impossible to pick any specific moments to highlight, as throughout the entirety of the album, the overwhelming emotion I have is one of internal pandemonium. Each element is so skilfully manifested; from moments of sheer sonic terror to the very encapsulations of silence to create an uneasy response, it is hard to strip it down to mere tracks to focus on.
That said, tracks such as a song for Marie part iii show a side to the band where restraint and precision are the key. They say so much by giving away so little. Much more than just an instrumental piece, tracks like this highlight that it isn’t all just about making disjointed and uneasy chaos musically, but that you can go from a euphoric high, to a lulled zen effortlessly, and in a way that doesn’t ever feel out of place.
And that is just one of the many beautiful things about this band, and this album. For every moment that would create a sense of being unformal with any other band, with BIG|BRAVE it all fits so perfectly. This band achieve what I believe pretty much 99% of other bands fail at, and that is to take the listener on a very personal, introverted introspection, to understand just what it is that makes them feel the way they feel from a sonic experience.
Tracks such as theft give a real insight into the band at their most dynamic. The feeling of total destruction at any moment are rife throughout, yet the restraint can be felt deep within. When those guitars wail in pained drones, as the drum pensively builds to its climax, that feeling of being on the edge of your seat in anticipation is ridiculous.
quotidian : solemnity hits at just what a unique phenomenon the band really are, and at any given moment, it is completely obvious to those who know the band exactly who it is. This has the BIG|BRAVE stamp firmly across it, and listening to it at volume gets the heart palpitating.
The same is true of not speaking of the ways, it is these moments where BIG|BRAVE show just what it is that makes them so special, so diverse, and so important for today’s musical environment. Abrasively intense guitars, set over thunderous drums, it is so dense that it’s like wading through sludge. Iconic, unrepenting, and unforgiving, everything about this album, and the band, is unique.
Truly a force of nature, to witness is to believe, and I really hope that you, dear readers, go out and experience both this album, and the band, they will fragment your minds, and piece it back together completely changed.
Label: Thrill Jockey Records
Band Links: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Lee Beamish
