by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Big French's sophomore album Stone Fish is a masterclass in nuance. The songs appear simple at first glance but are littered with ear-candy, piling on seemingly erratic sounds to gorgeous lo-fi songwriting and creating something undeniably interesting in the process. It's a record of increasingly valuable return, with each repeat listening offering a new understanding for the patient listener. Stone Fish is headphone music at its finest, an endless assortment of sonic surprises.
"My Angel," the record's closer, opens with whirring effects, plucky strings, and a bedroom-softened rhythm, adapting together with an onslaught of spiraling guitars and sporadic bass lines, coming and going without warning. Fizzles of melody burst and fade like fireworks, their shimmering effect leaving it's mark on Quentin Moore's earnest songwriting. Pairing gentle folk that would be radiant on its own with twitchy noise-pop that appears and disappears in the blink of an eye, it's this balance and vivid experimentation that really put Big French in their own league. The video, directed by label/tour mate and kindred spirit Joey Agresta, pairs together triumphantly low quality computer animation with a certain emoji brought to life and seemingly longing for a companion... or a haircut, maybe even penguins... hard to say really, but it works.
Big French's Stone Fish is out now via Wharf Cat and Ramp Local.