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Feb 15, 2017They are shaping their own pop form, and what an incredible listen it is.
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Apr 26, 2017The unusual states of being in the band's songs are sometimes more admirable than relatable, but this isn't the case on Big Balloon's highlights.
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Mar 14, 2017Where some calls for more variety amongst the virtuosity here aren’t entirely without merit, the finesse of Dutch Uncles uniquely emboldened pop craft is arguably without comparison at present.
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Feb 27, 2017While long-term fans will lap up the album, there’s still not really that killer commercial breakthrough which will see them following the likes of Foals into bigger arenas. However, as another reassuringly consistent entry in the Dutch Uncles canon, this will do nicely.
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Feb 17, 2017Sure, there’s fewer marimbas on offer here, but Dutch Uncles have still served up a finger-lickin’ feast.
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Feb 17, 2017Big Balloon’s highs, and there are many, don’t owe much to either trends or the tried-and-true. Perhaps that’s part of the maturing process that Wallis had in mind.
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Feb 16, 2017Inspired by Kate Bush’s The Red Shoes, Low-era Bowie and eastern European techno, its songs barge in with urgency.
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UncutFeb 3, 2017A high-flying triumph. [Mar 2017, p.26]
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Feb 21, 2017Considering the genre was built around reinventing itself at every corner, their long-term commitment to a fairly narrow sound may surprise some, but nevertheless, this is another strong entry in the Dutch Uncles catalogue.
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Feb 3, 2017While the albums suffers just a tad from relentless busy-ness, its proggy ambition combines with Wallis; penchant for gently ambitious, catchy melodies to make a creative work very few artists are capable of achieving. [Jan - Mar 2017, p.64]
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Mar 20, 2017It’s an unfettered display of eighties-evoking posing that suits them perfectly well, but it also sounds like a step back after they’d already figured out how to match their compositional smarts with a clear message.
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Feb 8, 2017The result is less a stylistic refresh than a confident reaffirmation of their combined output up until now.
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Q MagazineFeb 3, 2017They are a band still in search of that one killer track. [Mar 2017, p.108]
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Feb 3, 2017It might not be all we'd hoped for, and could certainly benefit from some variety, but there are just about enough standouts here to keep admirers interested.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 7 out of 9
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Mixed: 1 out of 9
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Negative: 1 out of 9
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May 2, 2017
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May 2, 2017