Perhaps the only negative result of the Hayley Williams Effect has been that pretty much every female fronted band of recent years has had similarities made between themselves and the output of Paramore. Sometimes those comparisons have justified but they’ve often been misinformed. Thankfully those days appear to be over, and Small Pond Big Fish can continue to make the music they want without being subjected to such lazy comparisons.
‘Close My Eyes’ picks up where the band left off with 2014’s ‘I Despise’ and it’s an improvement in almost every way, with the production in particular giving their sound a real boost compared to previous releases. Despite having loosely grouped themselves in with the pop-punk scene Small Pond Big Fish showcase a diverse range of sounds and influences, most of which are put to good use.
Opening track ‘A Premise’, for example, may only be an instrumental intro but it’s an atmospheric combination of hazy vocals, synths, and drums. ‘Close My Eyes’ on the other hand, is much closer to their signature style of alternative rock, but the glimpses of chugging breakdowns throughout hint at something more exciting and unique hiding under the surface. It’s also the first time that we get to hear the exceptionally strong vocals of Iga Tchorz as she guides the song through the softly sung verses before rising melodically during the chorus. ‘Please, Be Careful With The Porcelain’, also places Iga’s captivating vocals firmly at the centre, with the understated yet always melodic music in the supporting role.
Aside from ‘A Premise’ Small Pond Big Fish turn to instrumental interludes a handful more times throughout the release, but to be honest they don’t really add anything often being too brief to really make a lasting impact. ‘Chiaroscuro’ however is the outstanding exception to the self-created rule. A sparse but gentle sea of piano, it still tells a story despite the lack of vocals.
Elsewhere, Small Pond Big Fish turn their hand to Muse-esque towering stadium rock on ‘A Closed Mind, Wastes Time’. Already a sharp contrast from ‘Chiaroscuro’, the series of hook-laden chunky riffs that form the foundation of the song retain the melodic edge you would expect but the varying time signatures and imaginative bridge show that Small Pond Big Fish possess creativity by the bucketload. They step things up another gear with ‘Strange Thoughts Follow Shadows’, a song that flirts with Four Year Strong style breakdowns without fully exploring that avenue. However rather than frustrating, it gives an extra edge and makes it arguably the best song on a record full of quality.
‘Close My Eyes’ comes to an end with an acoustic version of ‘Strange Thoughts Follow Shadows’, unfortunately the echoey production really lets it down. As expected, Iga’s vocals once again shine through but the muted guitars cause everything else to sound flat. It’s a real shame as the opportunity to show the contrast between the two versions is wasted. It’s a disappointing end, but given how brilliant the rest of the release is it’s a small blip on what is otherwise turning out to be a very bright career.
CHRIS HILSON