Brighton five-piece The Heavy Heavy have been steadily building momentum for some time. They have a retro 60s-tinged sound that recalls some of the era’s blues and folk rock acts. Supporting slots for Black Pumas and Band Of Horses in the US have seen them build a steady following stateside and earn comparisons to 60s acts like Jefferson Airplane and The Band. Impressive comparisons for a band yet to release their debut album, ‘One Of A Kind’ their debut therefore has a lot of expectations to live up to.
The title track instantly quells any concerns fans might have about whether the group can live up to expectations. Buoyed by blues licks, dirty riffs and drumbeats, it’s hard not to be swept along in its grooves. It’s a perfect advert for the group’s blend of contemporary with a pinch of nostalgia.
‘Happiness’, one of the album’s singles is far poppier and might earn comparisons to The Lemon Twigs. It is a perfect vessel for the vocal harmonies of Georgie Fuller and William Turner also the group’s primary songwriters. The harmonies echo around the soundscape beautifully.
‘Because You’re Mine’ draws on the blues rock tradition of the ’60s and has earned comparisons to The Rolling Stones. As with so many tracks on this record, the musicianship really shines through here, rather than feeling like a pastiche, it offers proof of the band’s calibre and how effortlessly they can pull off their brand.
‘Feel’s drum intro offers a different side to the band, segueing into an extended guitar riff and an almost funk-like bassline. It has a cinematic vibe to it with a real swagger and smoothness. Once again, the virtuoso guitar solos and riffs shine through, never stealing attention from elsewhere.
‘Wild Emotion’ is far more folk-oriented, built around acoustic and slide guitars feeling like a blend of early Fleetwood Mac and Ry Cooder. In an album that features plenty of standout moments, this is an absolute highlight from the soaring harmonies to the marriage of the acoustic and slide.
‘Lemonade’ is full-throttled rarely letting up and sure to be a live favourite. With just three of the 12 tracks over four minutes there is a real balance to the record and rarely does it feel like there is a note out of place.
Inevitably there might be some that call The Heavy Heavy overtly nostalgic but when they are capable of producing such beautiful and layered tracks, it is hard not to be swept along by the band’s tightness and breadth. As the album’s name suggests they are one of a kind and certainly one to keep an eye out for. Fans of The Velvet Underground, The Band and Jefferson Airplane will find plenty to admire but there is far more to the group than simply a 60s throwback.
8/10
Words: Christopher Connor
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