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:

1. Besties
2. The Big Spin
3. Socks 
4. Salem Sisters
5. Two Horses
6. Mary
7. Happy Birthday
8. For the Cold Country
9. Nancy Tries to Take the Night
10. Forever Howlong
11. 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. 

‘Squeaky Wheel’ – new from James Ellis Ford

Listen now ↓https://t.co/NMnXeW6HdF

— Warp Records (@WarpRecords) April 12, 2023

Ford initiated his music career in 2000 as a founding member of rock band Simian before teaming up with Jas Shaw from the aforementioned group and forming the spin-off duo Simian Mobile Disco in 2003, this time with a focus on electronic music. The duo have enjoyed a fair deal of success since, even amassing somewhat of a cult following, but have been on hiatus ever since Shaw was diagnosed with AL amyloidosis in 2018, which has in turn afforded Ford the chance to think about producing music solo on his own terms.

Watch the video for “It’s The Beat”, the lead single from Simian Mobile Disco’s first album Attack Decay Sustain Release, below:

Ford is also a founding member of The Last Shadow Puppets, formed in 2008 with Alex Turner, Miles Kane and Zach Dawes, yet his musical exploits do not stop there. He has producing credits on 55 albums, most notably Klaxon’s Myths of the Near Future (2007), Florence and the Machine’s Ceremonials (2011), Gorillaz’ The Now Now (2016), and all of Artic Monkeys’ records to date, and plays a multitude of instruments on many, mainly on drums, keyboard and percussion.

Quite the CV then. With this quite frankly stupendous amount of musical prowess Ford naturally sets the bar sky high, and fans of Simian Mobile Disco and The Last Shadow Puppets, and possibly even Artic Monkeys themselves, will undoubtedly be tremendously excited by what Ford has to offer in his first solo outing.

If we are to judge the rest of the album by the two singles released from it already (“I Never Wanted Anything” is the other track), we should expect dreamy, partly funky, partly Pink Floyd-esque vibes. Tape loops are used immaculately in both songs, lending an ethereal touch that allows them to float on and along flawlessly whilst simultaneously giving the tracks a satisfying cohesive arc.

Listen to  “Squeaky Wheel” below:

Pre-order your copy of The Hum now here.