Listen To Louisa Nicklin's New Album 'The Big Sulk'

Sounding haunting yet vividly present on stripped to the bone opening salvo 'Feel On Me', it doesn't take a detective to hear how producer Shayne P. Carter became drawn to the world of Louisa Nicklin. The Big Sulk is the Tāmaki Makaurau songwriter's second long player, eight entrancing, emotively searing northern gothic numbers (one tune is simply named 'The Shroud') polished in the studio with the aforementioned Straitjacket Fits frontman and fellow Dimmer live group member, recorded with Nicklin's bandmates Mason Fairey, Eamon Edmundson-Wells and Durham Fenwick, plus Chelsea Prastiti on some backing vocals.

Don't go in expecting radio friendly delicateness. String-mangling dissonance and post-punk / rock rhythmic heft regularly rise to the fore, while Nicklin's vocal narratives are unafraid to venture beyond intelligibility into shadowy abstraction and thrilling, neck hair-raising yowls — real Grey Lynchian dread. Elsewhere a hushed and heavy contemplative air permeates such numbers as 'Want Your Mother' and closing ballad 'Keep / Relief'. Easily a local release highlight of 2024, experience the moody majesty of The Big Sulk, order the vinyl LP edition HERE, look forward to next week's interview with Liam Hansen for UTR and don't miss Nicklin touring her new creation with band next month, also playing this Saturday afternoon for free at Flying Out...

"Through playing in Dimmer, I got to know Shayne quite well and learned about his creative processes. I liked the way he engaged with the band and talked about music. I asked him if he'd be interested in producing my next record, and he was keen. We then spent the next 18+ months working on this record.

This album is a development on what I’ve released previously. There’s more patience and consideration in these tracks; everything is very purposeful".

UTR proudly presents...

Louisa Nicklin 'The Big Sulk' Album Release Tour

Saturday 24th August - Flying Out, Auckland (free, 2pm start)
Friday 6th September - Nelson, Boathouse w/ Team Scary
Saturday 7th September - Space Academy, Christchurch w/ T.G. Shand
Sunday 8th September - Yours, Dunedin w/ Death And The Maiden
Friday 13th September - Moon, Wellington w/ Linen
Friday 20th September - Double Whammy, Auckland w/ Groopchat and Green Grove

Tickets on sale HERE via UTR

'The Big Sulk' is out today on major streaming platforms, vinyl LP orders available via Bandcamp and Flying Out.