The new single, 4th April 2011
The Joy Formidable follow valedictory reviews for their debut album, ‘The Big Roar’, with a new single on April 4th. ‘Whirring’ is taken from the album and is already a firm favourite with the band’s exponentially growing fanbase.
The rise of The Joy Formidable in the last twelve months has been a triumph for independence of thought and deed. Always clear that they were the pilots of the ship, the trio of Ritzy Bryan, Rhydian Daffyd and Matt Thomas self produced the album before collaborating with Rich Costey on the mix. The result, of which ‘Whirring’ is a potent example, is a sound that balances delicacy with all out attack, music that collides between the sweetest sounds and the most primal rock urges; a new loud / quiet dynamic for a new decade.
With a tour of the UK recently completed, including a London show that saw a breathless NME declare them ‘a shockingly special band’ and all but demand stadium dates. With Q praising ‘The Big Roar’ for being ‘equally ambitious, forceful and joyous’ and The Times declaring Ritzy ‘a star in the making’ it is clear that The Joy Formidable’s time has come.
The coming months see the band tour throughout Europe before a return to the USA for South By South West and a coast to coast jaunt ending in an already ferverishly discussed New York finale at the Webster Hall on April 29th following Rolling Stone’s positioning them as Ones To Watch for 2011 Stateside. The next chance for UK audiences to see the band will be in May when they return for two very special shows as follows:
Tuesday 10th May - London, Koko
Thursday 12th May - Hector’s House, Brighton @ The Great Escape Festival
‘Whirring’ is released on digital download on 4th April. Album ‘The Big Roar’ is out now.
Just in case you were interested…. a few things some of the lovely people who run the internet have to say about The Joy Formidable’s debut album ‘The Big Roar’ (in no particular order)
BBC Music “A powerful signal of intent and a fantastic debut.”
The Quietus “The entire album is executed with such aplomb, such energy and emotion, it's almost impossible not to love.”
The Line of Best Fit “The Big Roar is a suffocatingly breath-taking gust of fresh air. A record that does what it wants and doesn’t make any apologies for doing so, it’s a histrionic, anthemic, accomplished rock debut.”
4.5/5 MusicOMH “The Big Roar has been some time in coming, but it has been well worth the wait.”
10/10 Battery In Your Leg “I have never been so happy to review an album. For me it’s a vindication and payback for the hard work they have put in over the last few years. I’m pleased that we can finally say that it’s coming folks, and it’s been worth the wait.”
8 /10 Contact Music “'The Big Roar' is everything The Joy Formidable promised to deliver from the outset and more. Having taken so long in the making, the wait has been worthwhile. Now, with the first chapter documented and closed, the next stage of their development could be an excitingly mouth-watering journey indeed.”
8/10 Virgin Music “‘The Big Roar’ does what it says on the tin. It’s loud, it’s in your face and it’s gloriously fun (as any good roar should be…). But don’t listen to me – go and see for yourself – I bet you won’t ask for your money back.”
10/10 Von Pip Musical Express “Amongst the fury, the power and the often giddy pace of the album, The Joy Formidable manage to stir something deep inside you, connecting an emotional level, filling you with a sense of euphoria and ultimately leaving you to ponder just what is it about such a magnificent noise that is so incredibly moving and life affirming?”
7/10 Drowned in Sound “these tracks burn with anthemic vivacity”
4/5 Virgin Media “With their thundering guitars, seismic riffs and alternately honeyed and serrated female vocals, The Joy Formidable may just have made the best heavy-duty art-rock debut album since The Dead Weather….. Having bided their time, The Joy Formidable might just prove to be one of the bands of 2011.”
8/10 ClashMusic “The goods have indeed been produced…. “The band’s trademark remains a powerful wall of sound. Bolt on an undeniably zealous execution, a set of simple yet well-written songs, add an element of confident adventure via some experimentation and diversity and the rebirth of indie may just have found its leading protagonists.”
9 /10 Subba Cultcha “a contender for album of the year.”
8/10 Stereoboard “What the Joy Formidable have brought to offer on ‘The Big Roar’ is a beguiling shoegazing sound for the current decade”
4.5/5 GIITTV “immense indie-pop anthems….. ‘the album of 2011’ has little meaning so early on [in the year], but I am confident this will still be the case in 12 months time. The Big Roar should be the start of an even bigger future.”
8/10 Bring The Noise “The whole album is near faultless and The Joy Formidable are set to go far if they keep up this perfect blend of indie pop with an edge.”
9/10 Rocksound “Full of surprises TJF cover a huge spectrum of sounds, giving a lesson in how to make quality music.”
It’s All Happening “Somehow simultaneously reflective and acutely boisterousness, the layered tangents that flow and fold throughout The Big Roar show the band’s expansive talent. If you’re new to The Joy Formidable, you’re so lucky. Be prepared to be swept away. Wow.”
7/10 The Music Fix “The Joy Formidable are an investment, an undertaking borne of love. For those of us who really, properly care, the long haul never looked so bright and The Big Roar is a bracing start.”
Buzzin Music “The Big Roar is confident, classy, exhilarating and simply a quite brilliant debut album from The Joy Formidable, turn it up loud and enjoy.”
Entertainment Focus “This album shows how far this band has come and the enormous potential they hold.”
4/5 The Beat Surrender “I see why people love this band and I definitely understand the hype.” “If you like your music a bit ballsy, yet accessible, then this three piece are the answer.”
Muso’s Guide "The Big Roar has been worth the wait… a convincing blend of proper arse-kicking rock and something which is enriching and engaging. It’s a really strong debut album which shows room to grow, and give us good cause to be excited about what the future holds for The Joy Formidable."
4/5 The Skinny "Gently infectious and overwhelmingly dreamy, The Joy Formidable's debut full-length The Big Roar marks itself out as the soundtrack du jour for rock 'n' roll escapists."
The new single, 4th April 2011
The Joy Formidable follow valedictory reviews for their debut album, ‘The Big Roar’, with a new single on April 4th. ‘Whirring’ is taken from the album and is already a firm favourite with the band’s exponentially growing fanbase.
The rise of The Joy Formidable in the last twelve months has been a triumph for independence of thought and deed. Always clear that they were the pilots of the ship, the trio of Ritzy Bryan, Rhydian Daffyd and Matt Thomas self produced the album before collaborating with Rich Costey on the mix. The result, of which ‘Whirring’ is a potent example, is a sound that balances delicacy with all out attack, music that collides between the sweetest sounds and the most primal rock urges; a new loud / quiet dynamic for a new decade.
With a tour of the UK recently completed, including a London show that saw a breathless NME declare them ‘a shockingly special band’ and all but demand stadium dates. With Q praising ‘The Big Roar’ for being ‘equally ambitious, forceful and joyous’ and The Times declaring Ritzy ‘a star in the making’ it is clear that The Joy Formidable’s time has come.
The coming months see the band tour throughout Europe before a return to the USA for South By South West and a coast to coast jaunt ending in an already ferverishly discussed New York finale at the Webster Hall on April 29th following Rolling Stone’s positioning them as Ones To Watch for 2011 Stateside. The next chance for UK audiences to see the band will be in May when they return for two very special shows as follows:
Tuesday 10th May - London, Koko
Thursday 12th May - Hector’s House, Brighton @ The Great Escape Festival
‘Whirring’ is released on digital download on 4th April. Album ‘The Big Roar’ is out now.
Just in case you were interested…. a few things some of the lovely people who run the internet have to say about The Joy Formidable’s debut album ‘The Big Roar’ (in no particular order)
BBC Music “A powerful signal of intent and a fantastic debut.”
The Quietus “The entire album is executed with such aplomb, such energy and emotion, it's almost impossible not to love.”
The Line of Best Fit “The Big Roar is a suffocatingly breath-taking gust of fresh air. A record that does what it wants and doesn’t make any apologies for doing so, it’s a histrionic, anthemic, accomplished rock debut.”
4.5/5 MusicOMH “The Big Roar has been some time in coming, but it has been well worth the wait.”
10/10 Battery In Your Leg “I have never been so happy to review an album. For me it’s a vindication and payback for the hard work they have put in over the last few years. I’m pleased that we can finally say that it’s coming folks, and it’s been worth the wait.”
8 /10 Contact Music “'The Big Roar' is everything The Joy Formidable promised to deliver from the outset and more. Having taken so long in the making, the wait has been worthwhile. Now, with the first chapter documented and closed, the next stage of their development could be an excitingly mouth-watering journey indeed.”
8/10 Virgin Music “‘The Big Roar’ does what it says on the tin. It’s loud, it’s in your face and it’s gloriously fun (as any good roar should be…). But don’t listen to me – go and see for yourself – I bet you won’t ask for your money back.”
10/10 Von Pip Musical Express “Amongst the fury, the power and the often giddy pace of the album, The Joy Formidable manage to stir something deep inside you, connecting an emotional level, filling you with a sense of euphoria and ultimately leaving you to ponder just what is it about such a magnificent noise that is so incredibly moving and life affirming?”
7/10 Drowned in Sound “these tracks burn with anthemic vivacity”
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