BIG SPECIAL have revealed their next release, an EP titled
'O'JOY!', which arrives on 5th June through SO Recordings. Alongside the announcement, the pair have dropped a fresh track from the project called
'ONLY FREE WHEN SLEEPING'.Made up of vocalist Joe Hicklin and drummer Callum Moloney, BIG SPECIAL have previously released three tracks from the EP — 'SLUGLIFE', 'PLAINTIVE NATIVE' and 'DRAGGED UP A HILL (and thrown down the other side)'.
The nine-track record will be available on CD, LP and digital formats, with its tracklist also featuring unreleased cuts 'LAZARUS', 'THE WAKE', 'FAMILY BONES', 'GARDEN OF FOOLS' and 'HOTEL'.
Speaking about 'O'JOY!', the band explain: "This new record is made of all the fallen parts of our first two albums. We picked them up and took them back to the studio to rework and play with them to make them into their own piece of work that reflects upon what we have done so far."
They describe the release as, "A smirking eye roll to dread and discomfort. It all seems like such a downer, but it's a positive thing to write songs like this, it's important to remember that songs aren't pamphlets. They are emotional reactions to how you feel at a certain time, and you need to let yourself feel and express."They add:
"We want to play good honest shows and make good honest records, and we want to do that for as long as we can; so here is all we've got. This record is dedicated to the memory of our good friend, Handsome James Borrer."