With a sound that defies classification, the debut album In the Pocket of Big Sad by Mumbles thrusts one into the whirlwind of a late-capitalist existence.
Weaving intricate sonic tapestries that oscillate between moments of joy, desperation, and intimacy, the trio led by front person Jacob Nicholas, drummer Oli Knight, and clarinettist Tristan O’Leary, Mumbles is fearless in their attack of unleashing a torrent of emotion and energy.
From the dissonance of “How Do Happy?” to the twisting of formation in “JD Sports” and “This Lamb Wants Attention,” each track In the Pocket of Big Sad offers a unique sonic journey. But there’s also a more tender, fun, and more traditional sound in tracks like “Everything Just Sprawls” and “Violence and Stupidity.”
“Talking to Plants,” a monumental track that clocks in at nineteen minutes and one second, is a ride from pastoral indie to free jazz chaos. The song traverses a vast emotional landscape, culminating in an exorcising of mental and emotional demons that shows the band’s devotion to healing and community.
With a minimal amount of members, Mumbles shows how to maximise sound, push boundaries, and forge connections and with the heartfelt lyricism in In the Pocket of Big Sad, it is chaotic and freeing.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS: “Drunk in the Universe,” “Everything Just Sprawls”, “Violence and Stupidity,” “In My Garden,” “Talking to Plants”
