I
It’s 2021, pandemic winding down,
civilization returning somewhat to
normal, and two artists, right next
to each other in the alphabet, break
out from jolly ol’ England, two
experimental and unconventional
young bands bringing together
a regular smorgasbord of influences
from the progressive and art rock
movements of the last decades.
The first of these, this band called
Black Country, New Road. Highly
talented instrumentalists fronted
by a guitar player lead singer, some
unholy combination of slam poet
and storyteller, most of his singing
spoken, clearly a choice, but
raising the question, can he carry
a tune? I mean, if he wanted to,
could he actually sing? He does,
in brief moments, actually sing,
and passably, although awkwardly,
in an art school avant garde kind of way,
or like the Geese guy.
No matter, really. The music is captivating,
complex, full of odd time signatures,
cool instrumental breaks, almost
folk rock instrumentation, strings
and horns, crazy distorted guitar
punctuation and nonsensical solos.
And the band is not beyond building
a six and a half minute song around
a single riff, while the singer tells a
story about competing in a science
fair as if it were an existential
crisis. He yells over and over,
“It’s black country out there.”
Or later, again, as if his life
depended on it, he screams,
“I am invincible in these sunglasses!”
They make two albums, both
critically acclaimed, the second
album considerably more tuneful,
they attract a wide, young,
enthusiastic audience, then, at what
seemed like the sweet spot for
an up-and-coming art rock band
on the way to stardom, this eclectic
spoken word lead singer guy,
“don’t eat your toast in my bed,”
leaves the band almost immediately
after the second album is released
around almost unanimous praise.
He’s a personality, surely a force
to be reckoned with, so what now?
It’d be like if David Byrne left
Talking Heads after the second album.
What’s left? What do they do?
Is it all over already?
II
Apparently, Black Country, New Road
is hiding within the band
three women instrumentalists who
all have the skill and potential
interest to become lead vocalists
and principal song writers.
Hardly without skipping a beat,
they pull together a full set of new
material without their ex-singer
and tour with those songs; they
even release a live album.
The third studio album, Forever Howlong,
is a brand new, revelatory thing.
Nothing is spoken, everything is sung,
and beautifully. I don’t know
if I can think of a single band
who lost their primary writer and
singer who proceeded with this
kind of triumph, especially after
reaching what may have seemed
like a pinnacle of success. One
of my favorite albums of 2025,
Forever Howlong is a record made
by a far superior Black Country,
New Road. I miss the weirdness
of their previous singer, Issac Wood,
but the band has managed to hold
on to enough weirdness to remain
a singular and unique rock and roll
combo, while bolstering their
expert instrumentation with some
lovely singing and smart lyricism.
An ebullient, joyous album.
I challenge anyone to listen to that
opening track, “Besties,” without smiling.
Notes on the vinyl editions: For the first time, Ninja Tune, 2021, opaque olive green vinyl. Ants From Up There, Ninja Tune, 2022, translucent blue with black marble double vinyl. Forever Howlong, Ninja Tune, 2025, black double vinyl.
michael jarmer 