Oxford's The Bigger The God have laboured to make
headway in the UK market after some encouraging early press. Thankfully
the quartet of David Cowles-Hamar (vocals), Ellis James (guitar), Andy Smith
(bass) and Steve Brownsill (drums) have persevered, despite operating
increasingly at the margins of the record industry. The upside is that
this has allowed them more creative freedom than those with record
companies standing over them. After a quietly impressive start with Variety
(1996) and attendant singles "Mum Steals Boyfriend" and "Miss
Pritchard," the group moved on from their edgy, satirical pop to produce
1999's better realised though obtusely named . . . and the Ugly. They
remain unlikely to win over the British 'inkies' at this stage in their
career, particularly since they've abandoned most of their original pop
elements. However, TBTG have managed to leave behind one of the best
albums produced in Oxford in the 90s. And when you consider the
competition - [Ride's] Nowhere, [Supergrass's] In It for the Money and [Radiohead's] The Bends and OK Computer, - that adds up to a weighty testimonial.