Postindustrial Hometown Blues
Postindustrial Hometown Blues is the debut studio album by the English punk duo Big Special. It was released on 10 May 2024 through SO Recordings and was produced by Michael Clarke and Big Special. The album received widespread critical acclaim upon release and reached no. 37 on the UK Albums Chart.
Background and recording
Much of the album consists of songs that had been previously released as singles. After signing with SO Recordings, in May 2023 they released "Shithouse", which had previously appeared on their second EP Black Country Gothic. That year, predating the album's announcement, three more singles followed: "This Here Ain't Water" in June, "Desperate Breakfast" in September, and "Trees" in December.Drum parts were recorded at OX4 Sound in Oxford, England.
Promotion and singles
Coinciding with the announcement for the album, Postindustrial Hometown Blues was officially led with the single "Dust Off/Start Again" on 6 February 2024, followed by "Butcher's Bin" on 13 March and "Black Dog/White Horse" on 2 April. The latter was provided a music video starring actress Kate Dickie on 25 April.Release
Postindustrial Hometown Blues was released on 10 May 2024 through SO Recordings. It peaked at no. 37 on the UK Albums Chart.On 10 October, the duo released another single, "Stay Down, Lazarus". It is a collaboration with the American singer-songwriter John Grant, and was the first song Big Special had written. Although not included as part of the original release of Postindustrial Hometown Blues, it was on the deluxe edition, released on 21 February 2025. Bonus tracks also included acoustic and live versions, demos, and remixes.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the LP liner notes.Musicians
- Joe Hicklin – vocals
- Callum Moloney – drums
- Michael Clarke
- Fraser Brown – trumpet on "Dig!"
- Ronnie Clarke – additional vocals on "Dig!"
Technical and design
- Michael Clarke – production, [Audio Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing (recorded music)|mixing], recording
- Joe Hicklin – production, artwork, photographs
- Callum Moloney – production
- Vince Von Van – engineering of drums, mixing assistance
- Stu Macaulay – engineering of drums
- Jason Mitchell – mastering at Loud Mastering
- Isaac Watson, Billie Arnold – artwork, photographs