Black Country, New Road — For the first time(Feb. 5, 2021) ♠ Nic menšího než milník v moderní britské kytarové hudbě ... Na britské scéně živé hudby se za poslední rok stalo něco neočekávaného. Vinu nesou rodiče, investující do hudebních lekcí pro své děti, ale staromódní virtuozita se vrátila do módy. Po letech výstředních nezávislých rockerů, kteří si to drželi jako základ, a nespočetných popových, hip~hopových a R&B hvěz, které se úplně vzdaly hudebních inovací, podzemních kapel jako Black Midi, Squid..., je zde nyní tato neobvykle pojmenovaná šestičlenná kapela z Cambridge. Znovuobjevila radost z posunu prehistorických signatur, nechybí zde šibalská sóla a obecně roztahování jejich schopností a očekávání publika. Staromódní virtuozita do vzrušující, pěkně zabalené show.Location: Cambridge ~ London, UK Album release: February 5, 2021 Record Label: Ninja Tune Duration: 40:47 Tracks: 1. Instrumental 5:27 2. Athens, France 6:23 3. Science Fair 6:20 4. Sunglasses 9:51 5. Track X 4:45 6. Opus 8:01
Review Words: Hayley Scott⌊01 · 02 · 2021⌋ Score: 9/10 ♠ Black Country, New Road’s 2019 single ‘Sunglasses’ was a timely riposte to young middle class anxiety, but it also signalled a collective uneasiness — its unfettered chaos feeling like a slow~motion descent into insanity. Indeed, the song has become an unlikely anthem for a generation living in confusing, problematic times. Vocalist Isaac Wood’s quivering rant about the hollowness of materialism, along with its overall wiry tension, sounds like 2020, in the same way This Heat’s ‘Deceit’ sounded like a nightmarish Cold War cautionary tale without ever explicitly mentioning it.
The band exist in a paradox where so~called high and low art intersect; this is noticeable throughout For the first time, making it a unique listen (where else would you hear references to Kanye West amid a fusion of jazz and post~punk?). In some ways, they are the result of the Internet: ‘For the first time’ is the sound of being overwhelmed by information and the easy access to art and pop culture. Seemingly, it’s because of this that their influences are all over the place. ♠ Previously released tracks have been reworked to sound more like their live sets. It pays off spectacularly — the subtle changes on ‘Sunglasses’, ‘Science Fair’ and ‘Athens, France’ adds more nuance and vitality. Elsewhere, ‘Instrumental’, sounds like it could soundtrack a Cold War drama about espionage, while the gentler ‘Track X’ denotes sentimentality and introspection, a side to the band we haven’t previously seen. ♠ ‘For the first time’ proves that Black Country, New Road are a much~needed anomaly. There are times when it feels alien — futuristic, even. A product of its time, it will unsettle and confuse you, and there are even moments that feel poignant. That is why they will be remembered as an important band, and this album a significant milestone in modern guitar music. ♠ https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/black-country-new-road-for-the-first-time BC: https://blackcountrynewroad.bandcamp.com/album/for-the-first-time FB: https://www.facebook.com/BlackCountryNewRoad TW: https://found.ee/bcnr-tw INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/blackcountrynewroad/?hl=en Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/blackcountrynewroad
♠ Nic menšího než milník v moderní britské kytarové hudbě ... Na britské scéně živé hudby se za poslední rok stalo něco neočekávaného. Vinu nesou rodiče, investující do hudebních lekcí pro své děti, ale staromódní virtuozita se vrátila do módy. Po letech výstředních nezávislých rockerů, kteří si to drželi jako základ, a nespočetných popových, hip~hopových a R&B hvěz, které se úplně vzdaly hudebních inovací, podzemních kapel jako Black Midi, Squid..., je zde nyní tato neobvykle pojmenovaná šestičlenná kapela z Cambridge. Znovuobjevila radost z posunu prehistorických signatur, nechybí zde šibalská sóla a obecně roztahování jejich schopností a očekávání publika. Staromódní virtuozita do vzrušující, pěkně zabalené show.Location: Cambridge ~ London, UK
Album release: February 5, 2021
Record Label: Ninja Tune
Duration: 40:47
Tracks:
1. Instrumental 5:27
2. Athens, France 6:23
3. Science Fair 6:20
4. Sunglasses 9:51
5. Track X 4:45
6. Opus 8:01
Review
Words: Hayley Scott ⌊01 · 02 · 2021⌋ Score: 9/10
♠ Black Country, New Road’s 2019 single ‘Sunglasses’ was a timely riposte to young middle class anxiety, but it also signalled a collective uneasiness — its unfettered chaos feeling like a slow~motion descent into insanity. Indeed, the song has become an unlikely anthem for a generation living in confusing, problematic times. Vocalist Isaac Wood’s quivering rant about the hollowness of materialism, along with its overall wiry tension, sounds like 2020, in the same way This Heat’s ‘Deceit’ sounded like a nightmarish Cold War cautionary tale without ever explicitly mentioning it.
The band exist in a paradox where so~called high and low art intersect; this is noticeable throughout For the first time, making it a unique listen (where else would you hear references to Kanye West amid a fusion of jazz and post~punk?). In some ways, they are the result of the Internet: ‘For the first time’ is the sound of being overwhelmed by information and the easy access to art and pop culture. Seemingly, it’s because of this that their influences are all over the place.
♠ Previously released tracks have been reworked to sound more like their live sets. It pays off spectacularly — the subtle changes on ‘Sunglasses’, ‘Science Fair’ and ‘Athens, France’ adds more nuance and vitality. Elsewhere, ‘Instrumental’, sounds like it could soundtrack a Cold War drama about espionage, while the gentler ‘Track X’ denotes sentimentality and introspection, a side to the band we haven’t previously seen.
♠ ‘For the first time’ proves that Black Country, New Road are a much~needed anomaly. There are times when it feels alien — futuristic, even. A product of its time, it will unsettle and confuse you, and there are even moments that feel poignant. That is why they will be remembered as an important band, and this album a significant milestone in modern guitar music.
♠ https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/black-country-new-road-for-the-first-time
BC: https://blackcountrynewroad.bandcamp.com/album/for-the-first-time
FB: https://www.facebook.com/BlackCountryNewRoad
TW: https://found.ee/bcnr-tw
INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/blackcountrynewroad/?hl=en
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/blackcountrynewroad