“Big Cat” is the latest track taken from forthcoming album Was Not Looking For Magic
Helsinki four piece Black Twig started 2021 in style with their first new music in almost five years, “Devils Please Be Gone” reconnecting the band with the outside world. Today the band share “Big Cat”, the second taste from forthcoming long player Was Not Looking For Magic.
Listen to Big Cat
Composed by: Aki Pohjankyrö, Rasmus Rantanen, Kaarlo Stauffer, Janne Vainikainen
Arranged by: Aki Pohjankyrö, Rasmus Rantanen, Kaarlo Stauffer, Janne Vainikainen
Lyrics by: Aki Pohjankyrö
Cover Art: Janne Vainikainen
Recorded and mixed by Aki Pohjankyrö
Mastered by Jari Suominen
Produced by Black Twig
Of “Big Cat”, Black Twig’s Aki Pohjankyrö explains; “The track turned out to be part guitar pop/folk song, part protest song. Its working title was “Revolution Song”, because it also has this revolving or circling guitar riff, which keeps repeating during the verses. One of my favorite things on this track is the electric mandolin melody in the chorus. Our bass player Kaarlo came up with it and he also plays it on the record.”
Black Twig’s “Big Cat” single arrives via Soliti on the 5th February 2021.
Rumba gave the single it’s first air
“I was committed to loving this song when it opened with that sort of pastoral post punk feel, circling guitars over a thundering rhythm section. Still, I was blown away by Aki’s performance here; he sounds huge and solemn, creating this sort of fatherly comfort; the forceful jump in the chorus is equally matched, putting his range on display for all of us to enjoy.” Austin Town Hall
“We can confidently opine that one of our favorite releases of the first quarter of 2021 will be Was Not Looking For Magic by Finland’s Black Twig. It is too early to further discuss the album, but we can provide a bit of the evidence backing our conclusion: The new single from the album, “Big Cat”. We loved Black Twig before, but we still are impressed with how much they have refined their sound in the five years since their last album.” WYMA
“This is one of those instantly clinging tunes you want to hear when you get up in the morning, under the shower, in the car, at work, and actually everywhere. Jangly guitars à la The Byrds and feel-good poppiness à la Teenage Fanclub.” TURN UP THE VOLUME
“This is a catchy pop song at heart, which really opens up in the chorus with a melody that will get inside your head on 1st listen. They also seem to hold back on their ‘noisier’ instincts until towards the end, when they just really let go with a thunderous guitar solo and a bucket load of fuzz” Nordic Music Review
“Big Cat is a wonderfully carefree, nicely familiar and whimsical little pop gem. Think Leevi & The Leavings, Cats On Fire, Teenage Fanclub and Pavement together” Päivän Biisit
“Black Twig, who channel a college radio-aged R.E.M. on “Big Cat”… the quartet rightfully ask, “How can we fight all this evil that we see?”, they encourage us to find the motivation and courage to look people in the eye, like “a great big cat”, and learn to trust a stranger despite our differences. Once we can come together, then we can right the world. If we don’t, then the “fascists will rise if we don’t fight”” The Revue
Press quotes for first single ‘Devils Please Be Gone’
“At times it feels gothic, but almost pastoral, perhaps tying into the band’s ‘secular gospel” theme on this particular song. Alas, you still get a heavy-hand as guitars dart towards the end, echoing and feeding back in this tailspin of squall. Both bright and dark, this song finds the band taking comfort in achieving a perfect balance.” Austin Town Hall
“This is a lovely warm sounding single: catchy great guitar riff, well-sung, good lyrics and a fine melody. What more can I say apart from give it a listen.” Monolith Cocktail
“…the wonderfully laid back single Devils Please Be Gone ” Päivän Biisit
“As always with this four-piece, the guitars are magnificent in this worthy beginning to a new chapter for the band.” WYMA
“Welcome back to Black Twig, you were already very missed.” Desibeli
“They mix the monotonic with interesting and unexpected elements and a dynamic arrangement that keeps the listener’s ears pricked through the song.” Tinsel Music Magazine
Black Twig: Was Not Looking for Magic
(Soliti 087) Release Date 26.02.2021
(album pre-save)
Was Not Looking For Magic album sleeve (2021)
Tracklist
I Was Not Looking for Magic
Outdoor Blues
Devils Please Be Gone
Walking Up a Hill
Puuhastelu
Moon Song
Typical Winter’s Day
Animal Drawing
Big Cat
You Never Were Mine
The band was:
Aki Pohjankyrö: Vocals, guitars
Rasmus Rantanen: Drums, percussions, keyboards, guitars
Kaarlo Stauffer: Bass, guitars, keyboards
Janne Vainikainen: Guitars
Composed by: Aki Pohjankyrö, Rasmus Rantanen, Kaarlo Stauffer, Janne Vainikainen
Arranged by: Aki Pohjankyrö, Rasmus Rantanen, Kaarlo Stauffer, Janne Vainikainen
Lyrics by: Aki Pohjankyrö
Cover Art: Janne Vainikainen
Recorded and mixed by Aki Pohjankyrö
Mastered by Jari Suominen
Produced by Black Twig
Recorded during 2017-2020 at Pikkupurontie and Eerikinkatu.
Black Twig discuss Was Not Looking for Magic
“The album was quite a while in the making, with the first recording sessions dating back to summer of 2017. Luckily we were able to take our time and make the record without any external pressure. We think it shows in the songs, which are richer than before, with more keyboards and acoustic instruments. In the end 2020 was a good time to finish the album, and we feel the lyrical themes haven’t aged at all. They deal with both private/personal and wider, social and sometimes even political themes.”
This album will be the last one with our original/founding guitarist Janne Vainikainen, who’s otherworldly guitar work you can hear all over the album. Janne also let us use his amazing digital drawings as the cover art. This is also our first recording with our new drummer Rasmus Rantanen, who contributed a lot, not only to the rhythm section, but to the overall arrangements too. As a whole, this was even more of a joint effort from the band than the previous albums: “everyone played everything” (almost).”
Photo by EMILIA PENNANEN
BLACK TWIG’S return is timely as the bands’ long time label Soliti turns ten, Black Twig are one of the first artists released on the label and helped forge Soliti’s reputation – confirming the band as Soliti alumni. #solitiisten
Black Twig online