Big Long Sun capture the social spirit of Brighton on ‘My Stars Aligning’
I’ve always admired bands that make you pause mid-performance and wonder, ‘Wait, how many people are on stage?!’ Strength in numbers pays off every time, and in the case of Brighton’s Big Long Sun, there are eight of them creating greatness.
I’ll admit to you, though, I thought there were more up there. Amidst a storm in Rotterdam during Left of the Dial, a gust of wind blew me into the warm and protective arms of a venue and from underneath the headache caused by the cold outside and the euphoria of a day full of beers, I looked up at the stage, and I swear it felt like there was an ungodly amount of members up there.
But perhaps that’s just how it sounded, as even in Big Long Sun’s live shows, they’re covering a lot of ground, doing a lot, and just so clearly having fun. I remember the members singing and dancing, I remember the crowd dancing too, and I remember it being joyous.
On their new track, ‘My Stars Aligning’, they capture that. In the refrain of “ahs”, they capture that communal sound as if a huge mass of voices is coming together for a nice sing-along. With the drums hitting hard but happy to hold it together, and a scattering of other instruments all thrown in, there’s a spontaneous feel. It’s almost hard to pick out what’s being played, as if the band simply opened the studio doors and anyone could come in and join them – but it works.
It works because it feels bright and social. It’s not a song to think too much about or critically pick apart. It’s just a tune to enjoy, one that will get a room moving live, one to sing along to, and one that perfectly captures the energy of the Brighton scene, where members so often mix and merge in different groups, and any given audience is a gathering of incredible players.
Clearly born from that uplifting and friendly crowd, Big Long Sun are another shining star among them.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out New Music Newsletter
All the latest New Music from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.