There’s a Big Star Outside - Swim Deep
It feels different because it is
Swim Deep are a staple of the British indie/alt scene. Formed in Birmingham in 2011, the band is currently comprised of Austin Williams on vocals, Robbie Wood on guitar, Cavan McCarthy on bass, James Balmont on keyboards and Thomas Fiquet on drums. ‘There’s a Big Star Outside’ is Swim Deep’s fourth album and marks a notable change in direction for the band. As a more casual listener of the band, this album felt like a huge change from the Swim Deep that I remember from my teenage years. Change can be difficult to adjust to at the best of times, and to be brutally honest this album won’t be everyones cup of tea but that is what makes it exciting. It is something different to listen to and offers indie/alt fans a different experience than the typical guitar music they have grown accustomed to.
The album opens like a windup music box, a jingly, tinny lullaby fills the airwaves. ‘How Many Love Songs Have Died in Vegas?’ is a solid opening track and sets the scene for this new direction Swim Deep are taking. With more breathy, gentle vocals, reminiscent of Cigarettes After Sex, Williams has a more tender take on lyrics within this album.
This music box like quality seeps into the second album track ‘Very Heaven’, the counting element of the lyrics remind me of childlike songs and nursery rhymes, which give the song a more comforting and familiar feeling. it becomes apparent by the second album track that this album is a love letter. ‘Don’t Make Me a Stranger’ moves the album into a more ethereal direction, the track feels more like a plea from Williams. It has a feeling of anxiety or fear of being forgotten which is apparent to the listener, reflected in the repetitive chorus. Track 4, ‘Robin’, has a more grittier feeling to it from the start with it’s Weezer/Death Cab for Cutie fusion of guitar work gives the track the feeling of the early 2000s indie/alt music, in the best way possible. ‘These Words’ is another gentle love song, ‘I knew you’d be something to this world, I knew you’d be mine’ showcases the euphonious lyrics that encompass this album.
The long instrumental intro of ‘First Song’ shows a growth in their sound, the song overall has a more pop-punk feel to it and shows a return to the loud guitar music that OG fans love. ‘Glitter’ is the standout track of the album for me. It is a classic indie tune, laced with gorgeous synths and a funky bass line which combine to give the song a more upbeat feel. ‘Big Star’ is a prime example of the romantic lyrics that are the foundation for this album. ‘If you can’t decide what you want to be, we could be in love…’, ‘I’ve been searching for something that shines, much better in time’. The lyrical sensibilities combined with the entrancing melody of the song make this a must listen to on the album.
‘It’s Just the Sun in Your Eyes’ marks a return to the mystical, child music box vibe which heavily marked the first few tracks of this album. The layering of the instruments creates a more heavy, slightly dark tone to this song which is solidified by the more melancholic lyrics. The line ‘Don’t take me home, I’m not ready for that’ becoming ‘Please take me home, now I am ready for that’ gives the song a story-like quality to it as we are walking with the narrator through this experience. The bridge of the song has a climactic feeling to it as the music swells and builds, the crescendo being beautifully encapsulate by the closing lyrics of ‘Oh don’t you fade out on me’.
‘So Long, So Far (Marbled-Bellied Baby)’ continues on this dream-like, lullaby-esc trend set out in the album. Lyrically, it is about having someone in your life who is able to ground you no matter what happens. The album closes with ‘Fire Surrounds’ which is also the longest song from the album. It feels as though it has a higher production to the rest of the album, which feels more stripped back and simple in comparison.
‘There’s a Big Star Outside’ is at it’s core an album of love songs, but not necessarily in a romantic sense. The album touches on anxieties, morality, grief, love, loss and parenthood - a wide range of human emotions and yet Swim Deep are able to beautifully interlock all of these experiences in their beautiful lyrics and then amplify them with their emotive musical stylings. This album shows musical growth for the band and showcases how they have matured not only as people but as musicians. This growth is also clearly seen in the lyrics which are a personal reflection of where the band are at now personally. ‘There’s a Big Star Outside’ feels different to anything Swim Deep have ever done before, because it is. The album is reminiscent of Death Cab for Cutie, Cigarettes after Sex and Elliott Smith. It is a must listen for indie/alt fans, in need of a new sound. This album is most definitely a slow-burn that gets better and better after every listen.
Album: There’s a Big Star Outside
Artist: Swim Deep
Released: 07 June 2024
Highlights: How Many Love Songs Died in Vegas, Glitter, Big Star
Bruadarach Music Rating: ★★★☆☆
Listen to ‘There’s a Big Star Outside’ here.
