The Big Moon’s name is fitting; the British guitar sluggers aren’t exactly shy. They’re the type of band to double down on ragged guitar lines and a pinch of soulful crooning, where their jagged indie pop structure roars through blown out speakers. But the Big Moon also know a thing or two about restraint; their latest single, “The Road,” is all about reeling in the post-AM guitar rock into something more suave.
A four-piece from London, the Big Moon taps out a soul-inflected rhythm, leading the band between sober verses and growled leads with Motown guitars. There’s neo-soul synthesizers purring in the background, all while singer Juliette Jackson snakes her words through the verses.
The song’s greatest charm, though, is how it builds. While “The Road” leads with a tip-toed guitar, it surrenders to DIY grandeur by the finale. The Big Moon throws down some angry riffs, the drums let out the aggression they buried earlier and Jackson leads us on a final spin through that arena rock hook. The bass gives a little send-off nod, and a pinch of feedback shoves “The Road” into its fade-out.