Grouplove - Big Mess

Big Mess is the third studio album by American indie rock band Grouplove, released in September 2016 via Canvasback Records.

Grouplove is an American indie rock band that was formed in 2009 by Hannah Hooper (vocals, keyboards), Christian Zucconi (vocals, guitar), Sean Gadd (bass), Andrew Wessen (guitar, vocals), and Ryan Rabin (drums). They have released one extended play and three studio albums: Grouplove EP (2010), Never Trust a Happy Song (2011), Spreading Rumours (2013) and Big Mess (2016).

On the buoyant Big Mess, Grouplove continue their transformation from a kinetic, hippie-dance pop outfit into a mature, if still playful, radio-ready act. Once again, Rabin (son of Yes' Trevor Rabin) takes the production helm. However, in the spirit of transformation, the group also brought on seasoned pro Phil Ek to produce a handful of tracks.

The result is that while Big Mess retains all of the band's exuberant, over-the-top pop fun, it's a finely honed insanity that balances indie sensibilities with kooky pop lyricism.

Also adding to the album's emotional impact is the band's newfound maturity in light of several years of hard touring away from home and the birth of Zucconi and Hooper's first child. The couple's vocal symmetry has always been a huge part of what makes Grouplove's sound so engaging, and their growth, both personally and creatively, is evident throughout Big Mess.

It's a theme they tackle straight-away on the soaring lead-off track "Welcome To Your Life". Elsewhere, cuts like the bombastic "Do You Love Someone", "Standing In The Sun", and the pulsing, electronic dance music-infused "Good Morning", find the band staking out the improbable, and improbably likeable, middle ground between Katy Perry and the Pixies.

Similarly, tracks like the yearning "Heart Of Mine" and romantic "Enlighten Me" bring to mind an engaging mix of the Flaming Lips and Fun.. Which isn't to say that Grouplove don't sound like themselves here. On the contrary, they've simply reached the place where they are able to channel their influences through their own voice and their own experiences. Ultimately, by celebrating those life experiences on Big Mess, Grouplove have crafted an ecstatic, joyful album.

Check out the tracks: “Welcome To Your Life”; “Do You Love Someone” and “Good Morning”.

This limited edition LP record is on starburst coloured vinyl housed in a gatefold sleeve with a digital download code, pressed in Europe.