mxdwn.co.uk » Black Country New Road

Black Country, New Road Announce Tour Return to Japan

Jo Farrant — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 10:56:45 +0000

Indie rock band Black Country, New Road has recently announced their return to Japan with tour dates set in December where they will perform new album ‘Forever Howlong’ out on 4 April.

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The band have had great success and a large, growing fanbase in the area since their performance at Fuji Rock Festival in 2022. Since then they have spoken about their connection to Japan in an interview with Japan times. Keyboardist and vocalist May Kershaw says here that she was born in Yokohama and returned there with her family for holidays and was briefly enrolled in the local schools there. The band have also noted their gratitude for being able to perform in the country despite ‘live show restrictions’. Their significance in Japan is upheld by the fanbase who are thrilled for their return.

【来日決定】 Black Country, New Roadが語る「バンドの民主主義」はじめてのリコーダー、永遠の絆と変化の季節@BCNRband #BCNR #BlackCountryNewRoad #ブラック・カントリー・ニュー・ロード https://t.co/BbBVPAs96F — Rolling Stone Japan (@rollingstonejp) April 3, 2025

The British based band is formed of Tyler Hyde, Lewis Evans, Georgia Ellery, May Kershaw, Charlie Wayne and Luke Mark after lead vocalist Isaac Wood left the band in 2022. Since then their sound has changed, with fans divided over whether this diversion is welcomed or not. The band originally gained traction with their indie-experimental sound, as former vocalist Wood was known to change and adapt songs during live performances of their previous albums ‘Ants from up there’ and ‘For the first time’. Since then the band have released singles ‘For the Cold Country’ ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘Besties’ from their upcoming album ‘Forever Howlong’.

Fans of Wood have compared the band before and after his departure with one fan noting this,

I’ll still give it a listen but it’s sad that Black Country New Road seems to be going in the Arcade Fire direction and leaving behind the Slint/pat rock stuff. Which I liked wayyyy more

— niko (@nikoxbenet) March 31, 2025

Although, there has also been a widely positive reception to these singles, with one fan stating ‘Genuinely such a beautiful song, this group has evolved so much since Isaac left, and I’m all for it. I’m genuinely so excited for the tour’, in the comments of the band’s TikTok where they posted a snippet of ‘For the Cold Country’. The song is a vast change from their earlier frantic, punk energy and instead introduces a slow building sombre instrumental to the folk inspired track.

@blackcountrynewroad‘For The Cold Country’ is out now. You can listen to it on your phone and or laptop now. It is the final single before our album comes out (next friday, the 4th of April). Artwork by Jordan Kee. We hope you enjoy listening to it. Thanks, BC,NR♬ For the Cold Country – Black Country, New Road

The indie powerhouse has been hosting listening parties around the world for ‘Forever Howlong’ where they have said to be giving away tote bags with crayons, a cover of the album (created by artist Jordan Kee) and a notebook so fans can ‘colour in whilst listening to the music’.

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The effort allows for fans to interact with the upcoming release in a fun and playful way, authentic to the band’s artistry and image. This notion will be exciting to see in upcoming live performances.

Black Country, New Road Drop New Single ‘Happy Birthday’ as a Preview of their Upcoming Album ‘Forever Howlong’

Liv Pye — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 02:00:50 +0000

Black Country, New Road have shared their latest single ‘Happy Birthday’ following the announcement of their soon-to-be released album ‘Forever Howlong’. The song serves as the second preview of the forthcoming record, succeeding lead single ‘Besties’.

With the expected release date of ‘Forever Howlong’ set for April 4 via Ninja Tune, the band have also revealed plans for a new run of intimate shows to take place in April; the sextet will take to the stage to play the album in its entirety in celebration of its launch, hitting locations such as Stockport, Edinburgh, Leeds, Birmingham, Southampton, and Norwich. These dates will precede their upcoming US, EU, and UK tours later this year, including their headline show at the O2 Academy Brixton, London. ‘Forever Howlong’ marks the band’s subsequent step in studio recording: their third full-length release following the previous successes of ‘Ants form Up There’ (2022) and debut album ‘For the First Time’ (2021), the former landing at #3 on the UK album charts.

Produced by James Ford (Artic Monkeys, Gorillaz, Depeche Mode), the band’s sonic journey takes another bend, splitting vocal and songwriting duties between female members Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery, and May Kershaw.

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‘Happy Birthday’ represents Black Country New Road’s commitment to an ever-evolving sound. Hyde explains, “When I wrote ‘Happy Birthday,’ I had Georgia’s song ‘Besties’ in mind, which influenced its structure.” The track slowly builds, incorporating piano and guitar, with Hyde’s lyrics reflecting on generational differences. Culminating in a rhapsodic finale, it showcases an introspective mood that engages listeners in the band’s classic nature. The single is also accompanied by a stop-motion music video, directed by Lesley-Anne Rose (other works include music videos for artists such as Kathryn WIlliams and Richard Dawson). The video visually explores the story of two birds in the woods helping each other to escape hunters, abstractedly relating to the song’s themes.

The band has also revealed the tracklist for ‘Forever Howlong’, as follows:

Besties
The Big Spin
Socks
Salem Sisters
Two Horses
Mary
Happy Birthday
For the Cold Country
Nancy Tries to Take the Night
Forever Howlong
Goodbye (Don’t Tell Me)

The album will be released in several formats: a standard 2LP on recycled black vinyl, a signed white label 2LP, an Indie-exclusive 2LP with special artwork, a Collector’s Edition 2LP in translucent eco jazz red with a different track listing, and a Collector’s Edition Cassette, also with the alternate track listing.

Forming in 2018 in Cambridge, Black Country, New Road’s current line-up consists of Tyler Hyde (vocals, bass), Georgia Ellery (vocals, violin), May Kershaw (vocals, keys), Lewis Evans (vocals, flute, saxophone), Charlie Wayne (drums, backing vocals), and Luke Mark (guitar) – replacing former lead vocalist Isaac Wood in 2021. Blending genres of folk, prog, and alt rock, the band have been praised by critics for their distinct voice and diverse approach to music, with debut album ‘For the First Time’ receiving a Mercury Prize nomination in 2021. Post Wood’s departure, the group released a live album ‘Live at Bush Hall’ in 2023, featuring at-the-time new material, solidifying Black Country, New Road’s destined success despite setbacks.

‘Forever Howlong’ is available for pre-order now.

Green Man Festival Lineup Announced With Sleaford Mods And Big Thief Among Headliners

Jake Watkins — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 13:07:15 +0000

The preliminary lineup for the 2024 edition of Green Man festival has been announced, and it is jam-packed with incredible talent as always, with Sleaford Mods, Big Thief, Jon Hopkins and Sampha set to headline this year’s event.

Uncover your GM24 line-up!

A mighty welcome to your four headliners – the luminous @bigthiefmusic, Mercury-winning @sampha, the transcendental @Jon_Hopkins_, post-punk heroes @sleafordmods & plenty more besides!

Big love, GM pic.twitter.com/eEVIsofCSS

— Green Man (@GreenManFest) March 1, 2024

Other notable acts performing at Green Man this year include prolific cult-heroes Osees, art-rock collective Black Country, New Road, alternative rock group Bar Italia, Scottish shoegaze heavyweights The Jesus and Mary Chain and singer-songwriter Arlo Parks. Also coming to the Brecon Beacons in August are New York alternative rock outfit Blonde Redhead, experimental rock favourites Fat White Family, Kate Stables’ Indie rock band This Is the Kit, jazz quintet Ezra Collective and exciting folk-punk newcomers The New Eves.

Set to return to Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, Wales, the festival is scheduled to run from 15-18 August 2024, and will, for these four days, be home to not only a fantastic variety of live music but also an array of other entertainment, including literature, film, science, theatre and comedy. The grounds are divided into ten areas to accommodate this, ensuring that festival-goers will never experience a dull moment.

Sleaford Mods, the highly influential post-punk/punk-rap duo comprised of vocalist Jason Williamson and DJ Andrew Fearn, will return to Green Man festival for the first time since 2017, and arrive now as a headline act following their incredible success in recent years.

Listen to “Jobseeker” by Sleaford Mods below:

Also headlining this year’s event, and also returning to Green Man as a headliner following a performance in a past year, is New York-based indie folk group Big Thief. Since playing the festival in 2019, Big Thief have added two critically acclaimed albums to their total of five, combining profound, masterful lyrics with incisive and blissful folk instrumentation in the process.

Listen to “Spud Infinity” by Big Thief below:

The third headliner is English musician and producer Jon Hopkins, who’s combining of electronic music with contemporary classical music, resulting in transcendent musical beauty, will sure to have a spellbinding effect come August. The last, but certainly not least, headliner comes in the form of neo soul and alternative R&B star Sampha, who will bring his unique musical prowess to the Brecon Beacons for all to witness.

Tickets are, unfortunately, now sold out, but you can sign up for resale tickets here.

Alex G, Caroline Polachek, Black Country New Road, And More Announced For Wide Awake Festival 2023

Kat Leach — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 15:40:30 +0000

Wide Awake Festival have announced an additional strew of artists hitting their stages later this year. Joining the roster this year are Caroline Polachek, Alex G, Black Country New Road, Viagra Boys, and Shygirl. The independent day festival brings a lineup of indie, techno, post-punk and more. Previous years have seen headliners such as Primal Scream, IDLES and black midi. The festival will be held at Brockwell Park on the 27^th May.

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Polachek is set to release her upcoming album Desire, I Want To Turn Into You next month, from which she has released singles since 2021. Due to the pandemic, her European tour for 2019 album Pang was interrupted, leading her to start work on her next project. Since then, she has brought out several singles, including ‘Bunny Is A Rider’ and most recently ‘Welcome To My Island’, accompanied by a music video. After a long time away from the stage, fans can surely expect Polachek to bring her all this summer.

For Alex G, this will be a stop on his European tour. He will tour the UK from March before heading to Europe for a mix of headline shows and festival appearances. His ninth studio album God Save The Animals was released at the end of last year and was well-received by multiple publications.

Black Country New Road will be joining Wide Awake after a UK tour and a quick stint to Japan. At the beginning of 2022, lead singer Isaac Wood left the band after struggles with his mental health. Bassist Tyler Hyde stated in an NME interview that: “It’s taught us that it’s really important to relieve people of responsibility in order to keep everyone in check and to actually live up to this thing that we have been saying about everyone holding the same responsibilities“. Since his departure, the band have released another album, Ants From Up There. Last year, the band also released a limited edition exclusive vinyl EP of covers, one of which was a Caroline Polachek track (‘So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings’).

Wide Awake Festival is advertised as a celebration of independent music and counterculture, and features not only established artists but a wide range of up-and-coming talent also. It is set to be a varied and eclectic mix of genres. The festival boasts seven stages, 40+ artists, a craft beer fair, street food, album signings and zine fairs. Los Bi7chos, Blondshell, Tirzah, CIVIC, CLAMM, JJUUJJUU, Nice Biscuit, and Wasted Youth will also be joining the line-up.

Tickets for Wide Awake are on sale now, and you can catch them here.

Black Country, New Road Announce First US Tour With Black Midi

George Carter — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 09:12:17 +0000

Post-Brexit New Wave icons Black Country, New Road have finally announced their first shows in the US. To mark the importance of the occasion, the group have decided to feature the genre-pushing black midi as support. Beginning in September, the tour will see a solo opening night at the Bowery Ballroom in New York, before spending the rest of the month with black midi travelling across the states. You can find full ticket information on all of the dates here.

We’re delighted to announce that we will be playing a series of shows in the United States of America later this year. We will be playing with our friends @bmblackmidi on a selection of dates. This will be accompanied by our own headline show in New York City at @boweryballroom. pic.twitter.com/BPsXuQ3Bxu

— BlackCountry,NewRoad (@BCNRband) June 7, 2022

Now when I say ‘finally’ I may be exaggerating the scale a little. Black Country, New Road (who for convenience sake I’ll call BC,NR) released their debut For The First Time in February 2021, then in less than a year their sophomore LP Ants From Up There was released – unfortunately, it came just a week or 2 after lead vocalist and founding member Isaac Woods announced his departure. So, it really hasn’t been too long in the making. But actual timescale aside, it’s been an eventful journey. Woods’ leaving gave the band no choice but to cancel the US tour they had planned at the time, and – because of the band’s decision to only play new music after the departure – neither of the albums released so far actually got to be played there. A lot has happened.

One thing to keep in mind, however, Woods’ departure was not one of malice or disrespect. The group have all openly condoned the reasoning behind it, and has chosen to look at it as the beginning of a new phase in the band’s history. Things change, members come and go, and the jazz-ensemble-esque nature of the band means that this may even suit them. The decision to fill a whole set with entirely new music fits in with the enigmatic history of the band; never let them know your next move. You can listen to one of the new tracks, recorded by a fan from one of the last UK dates, below.

BC,NR touring with black midi does mean that it’d be rude not to bring up a bit of an undiscovered gem in the post-punk world. The Windmill in Brixton is famous for its work with undiscovered, unsigned, and generally underground artists. It gave a platform to so many bands we take for granted today – BC,NR, black midi, and Squid should be more than enough examples – and as a part of the venue’s Christmas livestreams, Black Midi, New Road was born. See below.

Jockstrap Release “Concrete Over Water” Ahead Of UK Tour Announcement

George Carter — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 14:32:32 +0000

Few have had an impact on the post-Brexit new wave (if that’s what you want to call it) in the same way that Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye have. As well as Ellery’s involvement in Black Country, New Road (arguably the best UK band making music today, for those who are unaware) her influence spreads even further through her partnership with Skye, in Jockstrap. Taking the existential crisis that is the UK today to a new place that seems to be a coherent amalgamation of baroque-pop and some 90’s IDM really scratches a very particular itch that basically no one else can. After the immediate cult success of their first EP, Love Is The Key To The City, and a solid list of recent singles, the pair have finally given us another taste with “Concrete Over Water”, a very on brand sonic ramble that takes you absolutely nowhere you thought you wanted, but still very much lands. You can watch the directed by the band alongside Eddie Whelan, below.

Alongside the single announcement, which also comes with rumblings of an upcoming Jockstrap debut LP according to a press release, the band have also laid out plans to embark on an extensive UK tour. Beginning at Edinburgh’s Mash House this September, the tour will see the band take on 10 dates spread over the UK, before concluding at Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach in October. Fan Pre-sale begins tomorrow (Wednesday April 13th) at 10am, with general sale then going ahead the following morning (Thursday April 14th) again at 10am. You can find full ticket information here.

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The tour really ensures that Ellery is going to have a busy year, Black Country, New Road have also set themselves up for a massive EU/UK tour, the group’s first since the departure of lead vocalist Isaac Woods back in February. Set to begin in May, they had this to say, “We’re looking forward to sharing what we’ve been working on with you.
The six of us will be performing a set of brand new music. We will not be performing any music from ‘For the first time’ or ‘Ants From Up There’.” Considering the standard of music that the group have already put out, the next month could be a long wait for fans that just want to know how exactly things are going to work now, watch this space.

Jockstrap’s UK tour:

29/9/22 – Mash House – Edinburgh
30/9 – Stereo – Glasgow
1/10 – White Hotel – Manchester
3/10 – Belgrave Music Hall – Leeds
4/10 – Hare & Hounds – Birmingham
5/10 – The Fleece – Bristol
7/10 – Norwich Arts Centre – Norwich
8/10 – Patterns – Brighton
10/10 – Village Underground – London
11/10 – Clwb Ifor Bach – Cardiff

Black Country, New Road Set To Headline Visions Festival

George Carter — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 16:57:43 +0000

Black Country, New Road have been announced as the headliners for the first full-scale return of Hackney’s Visions Festival. Set to take place on Saturday 23^rd July, the festival will see a whole host of bands play across the festival’s 5 venues: Hackney Church, Round Chapel, Oslo, Chats Palace, and Paper Dress Vintage. This marks the band’s first gig announcement since the departure of the lead vocalist, Isaac Wood, and then the cancellation of their extensive UK tour that would have been underway now. You can check out full line-up information, as well as look into getting yourself tickets to the festival, here.

We’re delighted to be returning with a full-scale Visions on Saturday 23rd July 2022. pic.twitter.com/Wsa3IojpQb

— Visions Festival (@VisionsFestival) March 23, 2022

After topping our list for 2021’s album of the year with For The First Time, and then releasing another album this February, Ants From Up There, (that honestly might be a contender this time around) things were looking up for the band. But, due to a perfectly justifiable combination of reasons regarding mental health, Wood released an intimate statement on the band’s socials explaining his situation. Despite the band’s claims that they would continue to make music and tour as Black Country, New Road, many fans were left worried about their future. Especially when you keep the cancelled tour in mind. Now, however, some of that tension may have been lightened as they seem to be keeping to their word and getting back on the scene. As of yet, it is unclear as to whether they will be touring as a 6-piece, or try and find a new member to fill the gaps; but by the looks of things, a 6-piece will be the way for a while.

We have some news to share concerning the future of the band. Please read on for information on upcoming shows, but it seems right to pass on this message from Isaac first pic.twitter.com/3HHmSwBDQj

— BlackCountry,NewRoad (@BCNRband) January 31, 2022

As well as BC,NR the line-up seems perfect for those after a day of counter-culture. Niger based songwriter Mdou Moctar will also be heading to Hackney to perform his own interpretations of Tuareg guitar music. French DJ Oklou brings her special blend of ambience and harsh French house. And Dublin newcomer For Those I Love, whose debut album received significant critical acclaim last year will also join the line-up. This is also, only the first wave of artists to be announced for the festival, so watch this space for more updates on line-up news.

While this is only a 1-day festival, the festival has also announced a “special pre-party on 22nd July at Round Chapel, co-headlined by Yumi Zouma and Far Caspian, plus more special guests to be announced”. It’s an interesting idea to announce a single day festival… that is in conjunction with another unrelated party the day before the festival… at one of the festival’s venues… then still call it a 1-day festival. But who am I to judge, more music for us.

Isaac Wood Leaves Black Country, New Road

George Carter — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 15:51:18 +0000

Isaac Wood, lead vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of one of the most exciting bands in the world today (and the holder of the coveted MXDWN album of the year for 2021) announced today with a heavy heart that he will no longer be a member of Black Country, New Road. Announced via the band’s socials, the group give Wood space to say his piece before elaborating on what that meant for the future of the band. Needless to say, when the decision is between your mental health and the future of your passion project, I imagine this decision wasn’t an easy one.

We have some news to share concerning the future of the band. Please read on for information on upcoming shows, but it seems right to pass on this message from Isaac first pic.twitter.com/3HHmSwBDQj

— BlackCountry,NewRoad (@BCNRband) January 31, 2022

Wood begins by saying, “I have bad news which is that I have been feeling sad and afraid too. And I have tried to make this not true but it is the kind of sad and afraid feeling that makes it hard to play guitar and sing at the same time.” He later explains that this means, “From now on I won’t be a member of the group anymore.” The explanation seems to imply the pressure and expectations of the band just being too much, but ultimately, I am not Isaac Wood. I don’t know what he is feeling, but one thing I (and hopefully you) can gain some solace from is the fact that the rest of the band are being supportive. “This is completely in spite of six of the greatest people I know, who were and are wonderful in a sparkling way.” Wood finished his message with a simple “Thank you” to everyone.

The band then released a statement in the same post explaining how an effort will be made to continue the group without Isaac’s signature sound. Beginning by saying “The things we’ll miss about working with Isaac are too many and various to list here, but by listening to the music we made together I’m sure you’ll understand at least a few of them.” They then added, “The rest of us are working on Black Country, New Road material moving forward. We hope to update you all on new music and everything that goes along with that (shows included) pretty soon.”

All things considered, I think this is enough of a justification for the cancellation of the band’s shows at the Roundhouse, and in the US come April. Their new album Ants from Up There will be coming out this Friday. You can have a look at the last few pre-order options here. Listen to “Snow Globes” below.

Top 10 UK Albums of 2021

Julian Harding — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 23:25:47 +0000

2021, following on from the smouldering refuse pile that was 2020, was a year that many looked to with a great degree of hope for a return to normalcy. What we got instead was a twelve-month period of very marginal improvement and large helpings of uncertainty. In many ways, it was a continuation of the same old song from the previous year.

Musings on misery aside (and speaking of songs), one very positive thing that came from 2021 was a surge of fantastic and exciting music from all over the world. Our sister site, mxdwn.com, compiled a Top 50 albums of 2021 list with some excellent picks from this year’s massive roster. You can check that article out here.

Geographical scale be damned, the United Kingdom has always been a hub for fantastic music, decade after decade birthing innovating and head-turning new artists. 2021 has been no different, and as a result, we’ve compiled a top ten list of our own to celebrate (and perhaps introduce people to) some thrilling new British music.

10). Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes- ‘Sticky’

Sticky is an album fuelled by that mosh-pit energy. Fast paced guitar riffs and heavy drumbeats really raise your excitement levels to a peak before it’s really even begun. Over lockdown, many of us likely dreamed about the day we could mosh and sing along to our favourite bands at huge gigs, a club, or even just at your local pub. Sticky truly represents that feeling. The opening track is all about that release of pressure that captures the fizzy, visceral thrill of pleasure-seeking. Then we get songs like “Bang Bang” and “Take It To The Brink” which you can really jump around to. Though it’s not all about releasing our pent-up energy we dive a bit deeper with tracks like “Rat Race” which attacks the callous opportunism of political figures who used the pandemic to increase their wealth. One of the best songs on the album is definitely the collaboration with Idles “My Town”, focusing on issues such as urban decay and men who can’t discuss their feelings. This is a fearless album and an absolutely banging indictment of the last two years that will resonate beyond his usual audience.

-John Weightman

9). Cleo Sol- ‘Mother’

Cleo Sol’s Mother is an hour-long story of welcoming a child into the world. The voice behind the mystifying mercury awards nominated soul group Sault, Cleo Sol is known for her soft and soulful voice. Throughout her album Mother the singer showcased her talent not only through her voice but with her immense songwriting and beat selection. While her album is presented as a letter to her newborn child, the emotion and feelings amplified throughout the project sit with listeners no matter their circumstance. The singer’s colossal project was well-received critically, with Cleo receiving three nominations at the 2021 Mobo Awards having been nominated for Best Female Artist of the year, Best RnB/Soul Act and Album of the Year. Despite not attending the awards show in Coventry, the eclectic singer took home the award for Best RnB/Soul acts, an award that cemented her as one of the best the UK has to offer.

-Noah Fashesin

8). PinkPantheress- ‘To Hell With It’

20-year-old singer, songwriter and producer PinkPantheress is just one of many British artists who broke out in 2021 with a hugely successful album. The Bath born artist initially found fame within the popular app TikTok; whilst studying the singer shared various tracks onto the platform. The tracks went viral and consequently the singer was signed to the major record labels Parlophone and Elektra Records. To Hell With It was released on 15th October 2021, the release was PinkPantheress’ debut mixtape and was received with great critical acclaim. The album serves as a homage to 2000s’ music with heavy sampling and smooth lines encompassing the album’s material. With a sample from the classic garage track “Flowers” by Sweet Female Attitude, the release’s opening track “Pain” transports the listener to the heyday of the genre. The track was released as the album’s second single and sired great success within the UK charts. PinkPantheress’ tribute to influential genres can also be heard in “I Must Apologize”, the track utilises a sample of “Gypsy Woman” by Crystal Waters to create an effortless house track. Throughout the album listeners can hear further influences from various genres including nu-metal, as heard in “Last Valentines” which incorporates a sample from “Forgotten” by Linkin Park.

-Sophia-Elizabeth Tuck

7). Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra- ‘Promises’

Every year seems to bring with it one wild card combination that no one necessarily asks for, or maybe even considered. 2021, a year that never seemed to do anything in half measures anyway, delivered to us one of the best curveballs in a good while; Manchester’s own IDM maestro Floating Points takes us on an ambient journey with backing from The London Symphony Orchestra to give us a new Modern Classical gem. But… the addition of John Coltrane alum Pharoah Sanders takes us from a progressive piece of electronic joy, to a minimalist chamber jazz movement that is absolutely greater than the sum of its parts. The 3 collaborators elevate each other in such a way that it absolutely worth investing 45 minutes of your time, and a bit of cash for a decent pair of headphones, to fully absorb the interstellar encounter. My first experience with a new oxymoronic genre, grand-minimalism.

-George Carter

6). Little Simz- ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’

It is through no luck or coincidence that SIMBI has been featured on almost every end of year list you can care to name. Any assumption that she peaked with GREY Area was put out within seconds of her 2021 release, with Simz somehow coming back stronger after an imponderably strong 2019 release. Laid over a dizzying myriad of styles, Simz impresses with a mature flow, laden with story-telling sensibilities and quotable, declarative statements on life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. Refusing to be pigeon-holed into one style or another, she shifts energies like outfits, from the gritty heaviness of “Speed” and “Rollin Stone”, to the blissful serenity of “I See You” and “Woman”, and again to the soulful, Afrobeat influenced ‘Point and Kill’ and “Fear No Man” toward the end, spitting over Afrika 70-esque beats that would entice a murmur from the late, great Tony Allen. There surely is something for everyone on this record, making it difficult to identify a leading single, a stand-out track, or even a track which typifies the album. With SIMBI, pieces form the whole, making it necessary to listen to the album, cover to cover, just like the old days.

-Charlie Walker

5). black midi- ‘Cavalcade’

Following on from their explosive art rock/noise-rock/post-punk/post-everything debut Schlagenheim, London’s black midi ventured into slightly more prog-rock oriented territory with their second record, whilst also managing to avoid shedding their quirks and eccentricities that made them so terribly exciting in the first place. The riffing is still unpredictable, jagged and dissonant in many places, especially with the addition of saxophonist Kaidi Akinnibi and pianist/keyboardist Seth Evans, who add a whole new dimension to the group’s sound. Like a book penned by a master storyteller, the record gives the listener something unexpected and fresh with each song; from the screaming John Zorn-esque saxophone that meanders through “Slow” to the earworm bass guitar riff that grumbles beneath Geordie Greep’s accentuated, theatrical vocal delivery on “Dethroned”. Amidst a slew of creative experimental rockers coming out of the UK, black midi have proved once again that they are up there with the best of them.

-Julian Harding

4). Squid- ‘Bright Green Field’

Another crucial band in the UK’s roster of groups who undoubtedly have had every “post” label under the sun applied to their idiosyncratic and experimental sound would be Squid, hailing from Brighton. To put Squid into one box would be a pointless exercise, as with this ambitious debut full-length record the band has shown masterful control of blending their influences, in such a way that each track is a surprising and sometimes dizzying rollercoaster ride through a myriad of different genres. Drummer and vocalist Ollie Judge’s dynamic delivery of tales of dystopia in “G.S.K.” and musings on death by reckless driving in “Boy Racers” are captivating and reflect each and every lyric, whether he is howling in frustration or mumbling underneath an atmospheric drone. The guitars on the album are often defined by a glassy clean tone, spitting out math-rock inspired riffs with more than a hint of jazz influence at times, while an array of other instruments drop in and out to add to the experimental chaos. This stunning debut displays a clear and carefully crafted development from Squid’s pure post-punk beginnings, making the group one to watch for any experimental rock fan.

-Julian Harding

3). James Blake- ‘Friends That Break Your Heart’

James Blake’s Friends That Break Your Heart has to be on this list for a number of reasons, too many to count here. Suffice to say, everything just works perfectly. Opening up for a much more pop-style than he’d allowed himself in recent years, the album’s production is filled with this low-key intensity that makes the most out of every tiny detail, every sound allowed to shimmer and shine through the murk. With brilliant songwriting that combines his talent for memorable tunes and rich, emotionally nuanced harmony, the album doesn’t need to rely on production alone to have an impact. And then there’s that voice. That moment in “Say What You Will“ when he holds the highest note, yet remains tender and restrained, with the backing vocals continuing to circle around beneath him. If that’s not among the most beautiful moments in pop today, then I don’t know what is.

-Calum Moran

2). Sam Fender- ‘Seventeen Going Under’

Seventeen Going Under is one the most real and relatable albums released this year. While the primary musical influence of Springsteen is still clearly remains, Fender tells his own stories and creates his own motifs rather than borrowing common themes used by the Boss. Though there are still elements of this Fender executes it with his own now more developed and unique style. The opening title track incorporates a folk-inflected guitar motif and stripped-down drum beat that underpins Fender’s precise and evocative lyrics looking back on his teenage years. He returns to the subject of toxic masculinity previously explored on his debut album, the singer traces the links between violence and unresolved anger, while also reflecting truthfully and angrily on the brutal impact of a Department of Work and Pensions decision on his family. Fender’s ability to lay bare the conflicts and issues of masculinity in the 21st century is an almost unflinching approach to an often-taboo subject area. He has really developed his own lyrical style, shedding some of the more obvious Springsteen narrative motifs in the process.

-John Weightman

1). Black Country, New Road- ‘For The First Time’

Post-punk, post-Brexit new wave, experimental-rock, call it whatever you will. But no other group sums up the creative intelligence, anti-establishment attitude, or conspicuous self-awareness of the movement better than “Black Country, New Road” and their stunning debut For the First Time. This is a record that feels exciting, and despite coming out only three years after their arrival on the scene, it sounds sharp. Sharp like a band that have been honing their sounds for years. Because of this it’s hard to tell if the group will ever sound like this again. Isaac Wood’s droll wit is anxious to the core, and when paired with the obtuse, angular foundations from the rest of the band; it just sounds like lightning in a bottle. This is undeniably some of the most exciting music you’ll hear all year, it feels encompassing and unlimited in its creative direction. The fact this is their debut still shocks me.

-George Carter

Black Country, New Road Share Music Video for ‘Concorde’

Julian Harding — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 20:16:06 +0000

London post-punk outfit Black Country, New Road have released a sci-fi inspired music video for their song “Concorde”, which will be featured on their upcoming album Ants From Up There. The record will be released on February 4^th through Ninja Tune. You can watch the video at the link below.

The music video presents a comedic yet poignant narrative, following an ant-like humanoid alien (literally an ant from up there) who crash lands on earth and finds himself at the mercy of a group of not so understanding humans.

Maxim Kelly, who directed the music video, said to NME: “On the surface, the concept was straightforward, a walking video: An Ant from ‘up there’, sings Concorde…But, for a band who namecheck everyone from Scott Walker to Kanye West, and the pronounced mix of genres in their music, it felt right to take an analogous approach with the visuals. Throw as many references together as possible and see if we, too, could get it all to hold together as a piece.”

Describing the video further, Kelly stated: “We took the 6 minute [plus] runtime as an asset. It gave us the time needed to weave as much as possible into the film. A walking video in parts, but also with a narrative running through. We combined miniatures with VFX, and flanked the film with archival footage.”

The song itself feels sonically like a sombre progressive rock tune in places, given its structure and inclusion of various different instruments outside of typical rock band instrumentation, such as a piano and saxophone. It is somewhat of a departure from their debut For The First Time, however some of the meandering clean tone guitar lines do harken back to the post-rock vein that much of that album inhabited. The song is almost folksy at times as well, incorporating a mandolin that plays a gentle motif as frontman Isaac Wood sings “I was made to love you, can’t you tell?”.

Speaking to NME in an interview back in September, the band called their new album: “sad, epic and possibly more universally likeable… possibly.” The album is available for pre-order here, and all of the currently released singles can be found on all available streaming services.

Black Country, New Road will be embarking on a UK tour in April, and will be playing at show at The Roundhouse in London in February. Tickets can be purchased here, and the dates can be viewed down below.

08/02/2022- Roundhouse- London
06/04- The Foundry- Sheffield
07/04- O2 Academy- Oxford
09/04- Liquid Room- Edinburgh
10/04- The Empire- Belfast
11/04- Olympia- Dublin
13/04- Albert Hall- Manchester
14/04- Rock City- Nottingham
16/04- Concorde 2- Brighton
17/04- O2 Academy- Bristol