The Big Believe

The Big Believe

Illuminate

self-released

Amanda Thompson leads this wonderful UK band, who sound like equal parts Let's Active and The New Pornographers, but with enough of themselves thrown in to make the music, and the lyrics, their own. Their influences are just a starting point.

They write quirky lyrics about relationships, much like Mitch Easter, leader of the now defunct Let's Active, would write, not to mention the late, great Faye Hunter, who collaborated with the Big Believe on the wonderful song Let’s Pretend We’re Spies. Faye was the bass player in the first lineup of Let's Active, and was a mainstay of the Hoboken, NJ music scene, as well. The Big Believe's skewed take on relationships makes them sound refreshing, and there is no irony in the quirkiness.

In general, it is downright refreshing to hear a band update 80s college rock, rather than ape the 70s or 90s. For that alone, I strongly recommend Illuminate, and check out Let's Active, as well. Both bands will delight you to no end. https://www.facebook.com/amanda.thompson.908132?fref=nf&pnref=story

Andrea Weiss