Latest news with #ForeverHowlong
The Guardian
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Black Country, New Road: Forever Howlong review
The last time Black Country, New Road released a studio album, in 2022, it was accompanied by a strange feeling. Their debut the previous year had reached No 4 in the UK charts, and Ants from Up There was an even greater breakthrough, the sound of the UK septet pulling confidently away from the serried ranks of sprechgesang-heavy alt-rock bands who proliferated in the late 2010s. But there was an elegiac feeling around its release: Black Country, New Road's frontman, Isaac Wood, had announced his departure four days prior. The others had resolved to continue without him, but given how distinctive Wood's declarative, ruminating vocals were, many thought the band's future was uncertain at best. That proved to be an underestimation. Instead of touring Ants from Up There, the remaining members stopped playing any of the Wood-fronted songs that had made them famous and wrote entirely new ones. 'Look at what we did together,' ran the chorus of one of them, on a live album recorded at London's Bush Hall in December 2022 – looking back with pride at the Wood era, and perhaps in disbelief at where they were going next. On their new album Forever Howlong, they continue to be impressively industrious – none of the material from Live at Bush Hall has been studio-recorded for it – and able to turn Wood's departure into an opportunity for rejuvenation. Some characteristic Black Country, New Road sounds remain, including the hypnotic, Steve Reich-y crosshatched string and woodwind figures, but – aside from some rocking-out moments here, most notably the single Happy Birthday – their sound has moved in a more gentle, bucolic direction, driven by trilling piano and acoustic guitar, flecked with banjo, mandolin and woodwind. On the title track, the listener is treated to the primary school assembly-evoking sound of Black Country, New Road's members playing recorders en masse. Wood's role is now split between the affectless voices of Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery and May Kershaw. When the three harmonise together, as on Mary, it can sound like the Roches, albeit an anglicised, RP version. But Forever Howlong's stop-start rhythms, tempo changes, fourth wall-breaking lyrics ('and now here comes the chorus', 'a song I made, yeah, it's a song') and episodic song structures most notably evoke the jazz-inflected, playful and very British 'Canterbury scene' prog of Soft Machine, Caravan and Hatfield and the North, curiously an influence Wood mentioned as a possible future direction in a Guardian interview four years ago. This approach suggests a certain detachment from prevalent musical trends. You really don't get a lot of whimsical Englishness in 21st-century rock and pop, and there are definitely moments during Forever Howlong when you wonder whether that's altogether a bad thing: For the Cold Country is a tale about a knight in armour who ends up flying a kite with his own ghost, and you need a fairly high tolerance for mannered eccentricity to get through it. But if song titles including Besties, Happy Birthday and Socks suggest Black Country, New Road have lost the twitchy, angsty edge so pronounced on Ants from Up There, something more subtle is actually going on: they strike an intriguing balance between winsome imagery and darker themes. On Salem Sisters, what initially sounds like a description of a summer party, complete with barbecue, turns out to be an execution by burning; Two Horses' picaresque voyage of discovery culminates in the titular horses being fatally mutilated; the subject of Mary steels themselves to seize the day, but is bullied into submission; Socks seems to be fraught with the very 2025 feeling of being emotionally overwhelmed by the constant uncertainty provoked by the news ('I'm doing fine, having a whale of a time, but the world could consume all the things that you knew'). Occasionally, Forever Howlong can sound like Black Country, New Road are slightly overwhelmed themselves, as if they're struggling to marshall the wilfully complex strands of their songwriting and arrangements, and the circuitous structures start to ramble on. But this happens far less often than you might expectthanks to the strength of their melodies. They frequently rise and fall with a noticeably show tune-like gait (as on Happy Birthday) and they're usually luscious and captivating enough to carry you through the knottiest moments, including a section of Salem Sisters where the tempo changes with each line of vocals. Long-term fans may still mourn the passing of Black Country, New Road v1.0, who seemed supremely confident and on the verge of the big time. There's something exploratory about the sound of Forever Howlong and not every approach it tries works. But at its best, it's surprising, captivating and unique: the work of a remarkably resilient band determined to take the most scenic route. Wet Leg – Catch These FistsAppropriately titled: for a band that could have proved a novelty one-off, this is an impressively pugilistic and potent return.
The Guardian
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
On my radar: Georgia Ellery's cultural highlights
Born in Cornwall in 1997, Georgia Ellery attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. There she met Taylor Skye, with whom she founded the electro-pop duo Jockstrap; their 2022 debut album, I Love You Jennifer B, was nominated for the Mercury prize. In 2019 she starred in the Mark Jenkin film Bait. She is also a member of the Mercury-nominated Black Country, New Road, who have so far released two albums blending post-rock, klezmer and jazz. Their third album, Forever Howlong, is out on 4 April on Ninja Tune; they tour in the autumn. Ellery lives in London. ContraPoints ContraPoints is the alias of Natalie Wynn, an amazing US YouTuber, cultural critic and performer who makes video essays on a large range of topics, such as politics, gender, ethics, race and philosophy. The videos are really informative and well made. She spends months making them: they're long and very camp. The first time I was recommended her channel, I watched three videos in a row. There's a good one about shame, and sometimes she'll use a topic such as Twilight as the vessel, but it's more about tropes in literature, BDSM and power dichotomies between men and women. Munch, Oslo, Norway Some people can stand in front of a painting and it makes them cry. I don't feel like that, but when I went to the Munch museum, I didn't cry but I was inspired. The way he depicts anxiety, in The Scream and in many of his other paintings, really hits the mark. There seemed to be lots of variations on the same subject, from different angles or perspectives, or repurposing it on to lithographs and woodcuts. I particularly liked his painting Two Women on the Shore – it looked very Bergmanesque, like The Seventh Seal. Life of Bi I've been listening to this podcast for a couple of years now. It explores bisexuality, covering a wide range of issues, such as faith and bisexuality, or marriage and queerness. It's made by Mary Higgins and Ell Potter, who also write plays, and I feel as if I'm their friend at this point, as you do with podcasts. It's a fantastic resource for anyone struggling with their bisexuality, and it's also very entertaining. I'd recommend episode seven, F*ck the Pie, which is about the 'mother of bisexuality' Lani Ka'ahumanu, who introduced the B into LGBTQ+. It gets quite moving. Madonna: A Rebel Life by Mary Gabriel This is very well written. It goes into plenty of detail about Madonna's activism during the Aids crisis, with pamphlets about safe sex at her shows, as well as how she moves through the music industry. At the start of her career she signed to a label and was taken to Paris, where she was wined and dined, but the producers weren't allowing her to hone her craft. So she got on a plane and never went back. She was like, 'I'd rather be poor and be able to make the art that I need to make.' She's such an icon. Sauna culture I love going to saunas wherever I am on tour. I'm into the different ways people sauna: in Scandinavian culture, where you jump into cold water afterwards; Turkish baths and hammams, with different generations cleaning one another; Russian sauna culture, with the whipping of the parenie and all the rituals that go with it. Going to onsens in Japan was super cool: you have your little wash stations, with this multi-tool shower head, and a bit where you spray between your teeth. Afterwards you feel amazing – relaxed, like a newborn. There's no better feeling. Michaela Coel Michaela Coel's last TV series, I May Destroy You, blew me away. It's my favourite series: she stars in it and wrote it, and I'm so in awe of her as a person. The soundtrack was great, the acting was epic, and I love her style of comedy. So I'm very excited to see her next series, First Day on Earth, which starts filming this year. She'll star in it again, and it's about a novelist who's offered a job in Ghana, where her estranged father lives. I think it'll be amazing.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"This song was love at first harpsichord!" Black Country, New Road return with video for brand new single Besties
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. London art rockers Black Country, New Road have shared a video for Besties, the first new music from their just-announced third album Forever Howlong, which the band will release through Ninja Tune Records on April 4. It's the band's first studio release since 2022's Top Five album Ants From Up There, the release of which was somewhat overshadowed by the departure of vocalist Isaac Wood. Forever Howlong arrives with lead vocal duties now shared between Tyler Hyde, May Kershaw and Georgia Ellery. 'It opened up a real through-line in having three girls singing,' says Ellery. 'It's definitely very different to Ants From Up There because of having that different female perspective – and the music we've made also really compliments that.' "Besties came into my world with a dance of feelings, with such an understood concept of exploring the core emotion of taking on the world, and its obstacles to be with her, the bestie, again," Ellery continues about the band's new single on which she takes sole lead vocal. "Building this with the band took me to so many memories, informed by a collective of experiences from my childhood writing letters and maps to my bestie, into formulating our own map and sliding-doors effect narrative - charged with the instinctual punch and intuition of: I need to be with my bestie now. Working with Georgia, May and Tyler was a real treat across their performances especially, and quite literally, running from the more conventional lip-sync world, and injecting cameo moments with Charlie, Lewis and Luke. "Knee-high in January's jacket of mud, darkness, fields, street corners and a pack of hounds we found the beating heart of a world made better by chasing love and connection. Shooting in these conditions, and having fun is a real testament to a fantastic team and collective of people! It's been such a pleasure, this song was love at first harpsichord! The sextet have also announced live dates for 2025, including festival dates at Primavera Sound, Paredes De Coura, Lowlands and End Of The Road followed by a full UK and EU tour in September and October, ending eith the band's biggest headline show to date at London's O2 Brixton Academy. You can see all the dates and ticket details below. Forever Howlong will be available as a standard 2LP on recycled black vinyl, a white label 2LP signed by the band, an Indie exclusive negative effect artworked 2LP, and both a Collector's Edition 2LP with an alternate tracklisting in translucent eco jazz red and a Collector's Edition Cassette, also featuring the alternate tracklisting. Pre-order Forever Howlong. Jun 7: SPA Barcelona Primavera SoundAug 5: POR Paredes De CouraAug 17: NED Biddinghuizen Lowlands Festival Aug 28 - 31: UK Dorset End Of The RoadSep 11: UK Nottingham Rock CitySep 12: UK Manchester Albert Hall Sep 15: IRE Dublin OlympiaSep 18: UK Glasgow BarrowlandsSep 20: UKL Gateshead The GlasshouseSep 22: UK Bristol BeaconSep 24: UK Cambridge The Corn ExchangeOct 9: FRA Paris Casino De PariOct 10: FRA Nantes StereoluxOct 12: NED Amsterdam Paradiso Oct 14: GER Cologne GloriaOct 15: GER Berlin AstraOct 17: DEN Copenhagen VegaOct 18: SWE Stockholm FallanOct 19: NOR Olso Sentrum Scene Oct 21: GER Hamburg MojoOct 22: CZE Prague RoxyOct 23 : SWI Lausanne Les DocksOct 25: ITA Milan Magazzini GeneraOct 26: FRA Lyon Epicerie ModerneOct 28: BEL Brussels Ancienne BelgiqueOct 30: UK Brighton DomeOct 31: UK London O2 Brixton Academy Fans can get pre-sale ticket access for the United Kingdom and Ireland dates by pre-ordering any album format of Forever Howlong by 3pm GMT on February 4. Purchasers will be sent a code via their email. Tickets will then go on general sale Friday 7th February at 10am local time. Get tickets.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Black Country, New Road Announce New Album Forever Howlong and 2025 Tour
The post Black Country, New Road Announce New Album Forever Howlong and 2025 Tour appeared first on Consequence. British rock band Black Country, New Road are back with a new album. Today, they've announced their third full-length, Forever Howlong, set for release on April 4th via Ninja Tune. They've also revealed dates for a 2025 tour, along with the first single, 'Besties.' Energetic and instrument-forward as ever, 'Besties' is a bright introduction to the band's next chapter following the departure of singer Isaac Wood in 2022. The accompanying music video, which premieres later today, is led by director and choreographer Rianne White who lends a definitively cinematic touch to the visual. Get Black Country New Road Tickets Here Produced by James Ford, Forever Howlong is poised to center the band's three female members: May Kershaw, Tyler Hyde, and Georgia Ellery. A statement about the album promises a record spotlighting 'three distinct voices, which the band weave expertly together into an ambitious, meticulously detailed record that includes everything from folk to prog via baroque pop and touches of alt-rock.' Forever Howlong will be available across a number of formats, including recycled black vinyl, a white label 2LP signed by the band, an Indie exclusive negative effect artworked 2LP, and a Collector's Edition version featuring an alternate tracklisting on translucent eco jazz red vinyl. Pre-orders are ongoing. The band has also shared plans for a US tour kicking off in Chicago in May. Throughout the month, they'll hit Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake City, three cities throughout California, Portland, and Seattle. Once their time in America wraps, they'll start a run of summer festival appearances, starting with Barcelona's Primavera Sound. Tickets will go on sale beginning Friday, February 7th via Ticketmaster. Forever Howlong Artwork: Forever Howlong Tracklist: 01. Besties 02. The Big Spin 03. Socks 04. Salem Sisters 05. Two Horses 06. Mary 07. Happy Birthday 08. For the Cold Country 09. Nancy Tries to Take the Night 10. Forever Howlong 11. Goodbye (Don't Tell Me) Black Country, New Road 2025 Tour Dates: 05/13 – Chicago, IL @ Salt Shed 05/14 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown 05/16 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom ^ 05/17 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Block Party 05/19 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory 05/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern 05/22 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield 05/23 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater 05/24 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theater 06/07 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound 08/15 – Paredes De Coura, PT @ Paredes De Coura 08/17 – Biddinghuizen, NL @ Lowlands Festival 08/28 – 08/31 – Dorset, UK @ End Of The Road 09/11 – Nottingham, UK @ Rock City 09/12 – Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall 09/15 – Dublin, IRE @ Olympia 09/18 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowlands 09/20 – Gateshead, UK @ The Glasshouse 09/22 – Bristol, UK @ Beacon 09/24 – Cambridge, UK @ The Corn Exchange 10/09 – Paris, FR @ Casino De Paris 10/10 – Nantes, FR @ Stereolux 10/12 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso 10/14 – Cologne, DE @ Gloria 10/15 – Berlin, DE @ Astra 10/17 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega 10/18 – Stockholm, SWE @ Fallan 10/19 – Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene 10/21 – Hamburg, DE @ Mojo 10/22 – Prague, CZ @ Roxy 10/23 – Lausanne, SWI @ Les Docks 10/25 – Milan, ITA @ Magazzini Generali 10/26 – Lyon, FR @ Epicerie Moderne 10/28 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique 10/30 – Brighton, UK @ Brighton Dome 10/31 – London, UK @ O2 Brixton Academy ^ = supporting St. Vincent Black Country, New Road Announce New Album Forever Howlong and 2025 Tour Mary Siroky Popular Posts Paul Reubens Comes Out as Gay in Posthumous Documentary Tom Morello: Rage Against the Machine Were Locked Down by Secret Service After SNL Performance DJ Unk, "Walk It Out" Rapper, Dead at 42 Björk Says Spotify Is the "Worst Thing That Has Happened to Musicians" Former MTV Host Matt Pinfield Recently Suffered Massive Stroke Bob Dylan to Play Small Towns on 2025 Tour Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
