Buried heads in sand review of The Big Moon Forever
Diving Deep: How The Skinny Found Hope in the Face of Silence with ‘Forever‘
In the ever-shifting landscape where indie, rock, and pop collide, The Big Moon has always occupied a fascinating middle ground. Yet, when the London quartet The Skinny, fronted by the inimitable Juliette Jackson, released their latest offering, Forever, they didn’t just occupy the middle—they redefined the space with raw, resonant honesty.
Following their previous work, the band needed a moment to truly push through. While their 2022 record Here is Everything explored the joys and challenges of new motherhood, Forever tackled a profoundly different, yet equally life-altering, experience. The backdrop for this new album was deeply personal, stemming from a stark diagnosis faced by Jackson in 2024: a benign tumour in her eardrum that led to permanent hearing loss.
Facing such circumstances is a monumental challenge for anyone, but for a musician, it brings an entirely new dimension to the craft. Instead of succumbing to the difficulty, Jackson chose to confront it head-on, channeling that pain and resilience into a body of work that refuses to give up hope. The resulting album is a testament to navigating a world that feels suddenly muted, yet still fiercely alive.
The sound of Forever is built on this very dichotomy. It bounces between the pulsing energy of tracks like ‘Gravity’ and the sweet, hooky melodies of ‘Fun’, offering listeners an unremitting burst of optimism. It is music designed for escape—a sonic bubble where reality can be momentarily shelved. Songs like ‘You Remind Me That I’m Dying (and that it’s good to be alive)’ provide an upbeat shield, a determined refusal to let silence dictate the mood.
However, as the listener delves deeper into the album, an edge begins to emerge. The relentless, bubblegum-light optimism starts to feel like a deliberate deflection. It asks us to question the sincerity of the escape, pushing the boundaries of fantasy. It is in this space of questioning that the album gains its true, powerful depth.
The real genesis of Forever lies in the vulnerability expressed when Jackson finally voices her innermost fears. The track ‘Sounds’ is the turning point. Here, the façade cracks, and Jackson admits the profound longing for the auditory world, painting a portrait of what she will miss—the fleeting moments and the precious sounds, like the voice of her son. This moment transforms the music from a simple escape into a deeply poignant exploration of connection and memory.
Ultimately, Forever is not a sob-fest; it is a masterful balancing act. The Skinny demonstrated that true artistic resilience lies not just in the upbeat melody, but in the courage to acknowledge the pain underneath. It remains a powerful reminder that even when the world feels muffled, the capacity for hope and connection can still ring out loud and clear.
The album, set for release on October 30th, 2026, stands as a triumphant statement about facing adversity with music, proving that even in silence, there is plenty of life left to celebrate.
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