Favorite Music ⑨ Black Country, New Road
This time, I would like to introduce a band born in the UK, formed in 2018, that made their first appearance at Fuji Rock this summer. Initially, it was a seven-piece band including vocalist Isaac, but before the release of their second album, he withdrew for mental health reasons, and they are currently a six-piece band.
In terms of genre, they seem to be classified as experimental or post-rock... (I check the wiki every time).
I only learned about them last year... it's incredibly recent, but they create such creative and interesting sounds... From start to finish, I find myself excited, wondering what kind of sound progression they will take next, or feeling refreshed as I am bathed in a dazzling flood of sound, going from beautiful melodies to sudden intensity!
Since this year's Fuji Rock performance was after Isaac's departure, I was curious about what style they would present, but they delivered a free and fun performance with the vocals taking turns, which was really great... I was so moved...
There was a moment during a song where Tyler, who plays bass, was overcome with emotion and started crying, and it really tugged at my heartstrings... It made me feel strongly that I want to continue watching their success from here on out.
"Athens, France"
This was their debut single, and it was my first time hearing them too (^^)
I was hooked by the intro and never skipped it until the end. It's interesting because there are so many color changes from start to finish... Also, for some reason, I feel a sense of loneliness... There is a slight bitterness within the beautiful melody, and it resonated deeply with my gloomy self. Is it Isaac's singing style... or the melancholy of the lyrics written in the Japanese subtitles...
"Science Fair"
This is by far my favorite song by BCNR.
The distorted guitar over the crawling drum sound in the intro is irresistible! The musical style from five minutes in is truly an explosion... It's like the scariness of someone who doesn't usually snap finally snapping... Something like that (what does that mean?). The fact that the content of the MV and the lyrics don't link at all is also somehow terrifying...
"I was born to run away""Black Country is waiting for me over there"Take me with you too...🙏
"Track X"I believe they performed this song at Fuji Rock with Tyler on vocals? (Sorry if I'm wrong). I really wish I could have bathed in this beautiful song in person. I'm sure the gods of the mountains and the sea came to listen too... It's a song that feels like clear air, and it's very healing. The chorus by the women is especially good.
"Opus"
I thought this was a PV, but it's live footage...
The production is cool and the visuals are too nice. Who filmed this...?It's my second favorite BCNR song, but just when you think you've been stung by the unsettling intro, you're suddenly swept away by a wave of intense sound, and then pushed away... It's a great song with full-on sadistic vibes! Mmm... irresistible... Every time I listen to it, my mood reaches its peak!
"Sunglasses"I guess this is one of the longer songs by BCNR?This might be my favorite live performance. Combined with the footage on the screen behind them, it feels like my feelings are gently falling... I get sentimental when I listen to BCNR... In the second half, I get moved and tear up... Isaac's singing voice and the song have such high affinity, and the performance is beautiful, to say the least.
So, that was "Black Country, New Road" for this time.
If you are interested, please give them a listen.
Thank you for reading until the end.