Top Ten Albums of 2020 - 5. The Big Moon - Walking Like We Do

Counting down our favourite albums of 2020. At number five, The Big Moon follow up their 2017 Mercury Prize nominated debut with top 20 UK album Walking Like We Do

Forming in London in 2014, Juliette Jackson, Soph Nathan, Celia Archer, and Fern Ford make-up The Big Moon, an indie-pop four piece whose second album brought on the revelation "we can do anything".

Soon after formation, The Big Moon made enough of a mark on the music industry to be invited along on support slots with the likes of The Vaccines and The Maccabees and were snapped up by Fiction record label in 2016.

Debut album Love in the 4th Dimension was released the following year to critical acclaim, most notably receiving a 2017 Mercury Prize nomination.

So how did the band approach their second album? Speaking to NME, Jackson said they wanted to "explore their extremes", and this is reflected in Walking Like We Do.

Released in January 2020, Walking Like We Do isn't the bright indie rock music that their debut album represented. It's more melancholic, more considered, there is growth evident in their second effort.

Lead single 'It's Easy Then' landed in August of 2019. A piano driven ballad that brings to the forefront feelings of confusion and the complication of everyday life, it's the albums opener and sets the tone for the following ten tracks.

The following track, 'Your Light' steals the show. Released as the albums second single, the song details finding the one thing in your life that has the capability of brightening up your day and changing your mood. The song quickly became a favourite, racking up over 8 million listens on Spotify to become the bands most listened to song.

Tracks like 'Why' highlight the experimentation in comparison to their first album with the use of synth coupled with Celia Archer's piano playing creating an intriguing indie-pop tune full of contemplation.

'Barcelona', the fourth single from the album, again demonstrates the bands yearning to explore, with lead singer Jackson whipping out her flute. The song offers reassurances to oneself, "I'm okay, but I do miss you", and signals worries about the future, yet the optimism still shines through.

Upon release, Walking Like We Do managed to break into the UK album charts, landing at 19, thus outdoing their first record by 47 places, a clear reflection of the bands hard work in writing, recording, touring, and building up a huge fan base in the process.

It is a positive album that shows The Big Moon aren't going to sit back and get comfy in bringing out the same old style that brought them success on their first album. There is a clear aspiration to develop and this pulls out the best in the four-piece. 

Follow The Big Moon on Twitter and Instagram and find tour dates and merch on their website.

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