Following the departure of a key member, the Londoners had to find a way forward. This live album proves a celebratory reintroduction
The Black Country is not exactly alien to New Road reinvention. The band first emerged as Nervous Condition, however quickly disbanded in 2018 after its then-frontman Conor Brown was accused of sexual misconduct. Its remaining six members took on a new name and a new look, signed to Ninja Tune [Bonobo, Bicep] and released two scene-shaking albums, ‘For the First Time’ in 2021 and ‘Ants from Up There’ following The following year, both received five-star reviews from the NME, with the latter being dubbed as a “future cult classic”.
But their second album was also released under a cloud. Four days before its release, lead singer Isaac Wood left the band, citing mental health struggles. A US headline tour was pulled, and the band resolved not to perform any songs from the Wood era in their live sets, instead following the tide and using the lineup change as an opportunity for a total rebuild. . Lead singing duties are now shared by bassist Taylor Hyde, saxophonist Lewis Evans and keyboardist Mae Kershaw. The talent in this band is seriously deep.
The context surrounding ‘Live at Bush Hall’ might suggest some miraculous rebirth, but instead it proves less dramatic but more powerful: a group of friends supporting each other through good and thin. Recorded over two nights at the London venue – and with different performance settings – the group enlisted fellow creatives to help build the sets and costumes, telling CSM that it was like a school play with all hands on deck. felt similar to.
On the accompanying live film, you get a slightly better sense of that feeling: The members share smiles, conveying subtle encouragement and appreciation with just their eyes. Here, however, the new songs – performed at their various live shows throughout 2022, and which may not make it onto album three – have their moment to shine, away from the panto-like background.
The tracks are less knotty than previously released tracks, but the rawness is spectacularly beautiful. ‘Turbines/Pigs’, which clocks in at almost 10 minutes, is simply stunning, where Kershaw’s vocals first dance around a twinkling piano and then explode with a full band instrumental. The last 30 seconds of the recording are dedicated to the crowd’s celebration, and deservedly so.
‘The Boy’ moves with a similar urgency to Arcade Fire’s ‘Funeral’, while ‘I Will Always Love You’ shares a similar sonic architecture to Radiohead’s. The band describes the 2022 set as a work-in-progress, and says that none of its members are precious about the songs, a problem that thankfully doesn’t pervade this release. You think it’s even better to come.
‘Live at Bush Hall’, then, provides a remarkable snapshot of a band in transition, ready to move forward and not let circumstances stand in the way of what they love most. They are a collective that remains humble and ready to tackle whatever is yet to come, steadfast that as a unit they cannot be stopped. No wonder the show’s opening song ‘Up Song’ reinforces that message simply and sweetly: “Look what we did together / BC, nr friends forever”.
Details
- Release date: March 24, 2023
- Record label: Ninja Tune
