Black Country, New Road
Black Country, New Road (commonly abbreviated to BCNR or BC,NR) are an English art rock and post-rock band formed in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire in 2018. The original founders of the band consisted of Tyler Hyde (vocals, bass), Lewis Evans (vocals, flute, saxophone), Georgia Ellery (violin, backing vocals), May Kershaw (vocals, keys), Charlie Wayne (drums, backing vocals) and Isaac Wood (guitar, lead vocals); they added their then-seventh member, guitarist Luke Mark, in 2019.
For the English major road, see Black Country New Road.
Black Country, New Road
Cambridgeshire, England
2018–present
- Black Midi, New Road
- Guildhall Military Orchestra
- Good With Parents
- Tyler Cryde
- Nervous Conditions
- Jockstrap
- Ugly
- Tyler Hyde
- Lewis Evans
- Georgia Ellery
- May Kershaw
- Charlie Wayne
- Luke Mark
- Isaac Wood
The band gained initial attention through debut singles "Athens, France" and "Sunglasses" in 2019, which combined features of experimental rock,[1] post-punk[2][3] and post-rock,[4] drawing comparisons to bands such as Slint and contemporaries Black Midi.[5] Their debut album For the First Time, released in 2021, received widespread critical acclaim, was nominated for the Mercury Prize and reached No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart. Four days before the release of their 2022 second album Ants from Up There, Wood left the band, citing mental health struggles.[6] The album received further critical acclaim and commercial success, debuting at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart[7] and being featured on several year-end album lists.
Following the departure of Wood, the band immediately began work on new material, with Hyde, Evans and Kershaw sharing lead vocal duties. After touring throughout 2022, the band released the concert film Live at Bush Hall, in February 2023 (followed by an album in March of that year), featuring several new compositions and songs that had been written since Wood's departure.
Musical style and influences[edit]
Black Country, New Road has been described as a centerpiece of a new scene of British rock bands rooted in experimental post-punk with sprechgesang – or "talk-singing" – vocals, alongside contemporaries Black Midi, Squid, Dry Cleaning, Shame, Yard Act and Irish band Fontaines D.C.[4][36] The band often references other musicians in their songs, such as being associated to "the world's second-best Slint tribute act" in the song "Science Fair".[37] "Track X" references their company with Black Midi.[38] Mentioning Kanye in their song "Sunglasses" with the line "leave Kanye out of this"[39] and his song "Bound 2" in "The Place Where He Inserted the Blade".[40] "Chaos Space Marine" and "Good Will Hunting" both describe a girl with "Billie Eilish style".[41] "Athens, France" – as it appears on For the First Time – contains lyrics from Phoebe Bridgers' "Motion Sickness";[42] the original single also references Ariana Grande's "Thank U, Next".[43]
The band's debut album For the First Time is rooted in post-punk,[44] post-rock,[45] indie rock[45] and klezmer.[45] Their instrumentation also draws from American composer Steve Reich and jazz musician Ornette Coleman.[10] Wood's vocals were compared to Slint frontman Brian McMahan and The Fall lead singer Mark E. Smith;[41] his lyrics were influenced by American singer-songwriter Father John Misty, with Wood declaring "he's not the best lyricist in the world, but what he is is entirely, entirely honest."[46]
Their second album Ants From Up There was written to feature a more accessible sound.[25] It has been described as post-rock, chamber pop and art rock.[47][48] The band became "obsessed" with Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire during the United Kingdom's COVID-19 lockdown; several critics have compared songs such as "Chaos Space Marine" and "The Place Where He Inserted the Blade" to Arcade Fire.[49][50][51] Black Country, New Road also recalled listening to Kurt Vile and Frank Ocean for inspiration during the writing process.[52]
Other projects[edit]
The band regularly performs live with experimental rock group Black Midi, touring collectively as Black Midi, New Road. Geordie Greep of Black Midi said the following: “If there's another band who are really good in the same city, who you also really get on with, there's no reason not to get together and do something proper. It's just making sure you don't do it for the sake of it and you have a solid reason for doing it.”[53]
The band collaborated with fellow London musician Ethan P. Flynn on a released live version of his song "Television Show".[54]
Violinist Georgia Ellery is one half of the experimental electronic duo Jockstrap, who have released 2 EPs and an album.[55] She also collaborated with Jamie xx on a BBC Radio 3 session on 30 May 2020.[56] She made her acting debut in 2019's Bait, which won a BAFTA award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. Ellery has performed and recorded as a member of conservatory folk trio Contours and Happy Beigel Klezmer Orkester, a six-piece Klezmer band formed during studies at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Bassist Tyler Hyde is the daughter of Underworld founder Karl Hyde.[57] She also performs solo as 'Tyler Cryde'.
Drummer Charlie Wayne was also a drummer of another British band, Ugly.[58]
Saxophonist Lewis Evans has performed and recorded as a member of 3-piece experimental ensemble 'Guildhall Military Orchestra'. He also made a self-titled album under the alias Good With Parents and featured on the TRAAMS single "The Greyhound".[59]
Former lead singer Isaac Wood has released singles and made a collaboration EP with James Martin, titled Good Dog vs. Bad Dog, under his alias The Guest.