Within the last decade, Hovvdy has earned their footing within the indie music sphere, performing a range of slowcore from their debut Taster to country-pop from their self-titled Hovvdy, though True Love is the quintessential sonic mix of what the duo are repeatedly cherished for as time goes on.

Formerly of Austin, Texas, now based in Nashville, Tennessee, Hovvdy are continuing to fulfill new eras of their own music. They will support Wilco leading up to another headlining tour for Big World, a year after the duo recruited longtime friend and collaborator, Bennett Littlejohn, for producing a less emotionally direct and more structurally ambiguous line of work.

Big World is absent of a concrete pattern both sonically and lyrically, using fragmented ideas that belong to a wider theme deeply hidden within the album. In the past, Martin and Taylor had been consistent with vocal textures and elements that remained an undercurrent of their sound.

Now, Hovvdy does the unexpected by removing any conceptual pretences. Still, Hovvdy sounds like themselves no matter how often Martin and Taylor drift away from their typical routine. The folk-inspired guitar strumming of “Life So Wide” to the rock-anchored drum hitting of “Way Down” are early tracks of the album that are true to their complex artistry.

It eventually becomes clear that Big World has muted gems from rare moments of harmonica in “What I Had” and shakers in “Give It Away.” But where Big World lacked some energy, Hovvdy made up for it in singles “Blast,” “Try Try Try,” and “You Will Go Far.”

Then again, Hovvdy has an effortless ability to add warmth regardless of a fast-paced or slow-paced melody. “JJ” and “Starry” vary in that exact way. “Junk” hints at more of the uniqueness that can emerge from Hovvdy as a duo.

“Wannabe (Radio Queen)” closes Big World in a fashion that is reminiscent of the old and new Hovvdy, a fitting motif of a record that never stops taking various shapes. It seems that Hovvdy does not need a formula to bring to life something beautiful amongst the change that develops in their music. Big World may not be the pinnacle of what Hovvdy has to offer, but it delivers something unique the duo had to show for ten years into their career.

Pre-order Big World by Hovvdy HERE