‘Athen’s, France’ sees a physical release on 7″ vinyl through Speedy Wunderground in March.
After forming from the ashes of a project that caused ears to prick throughout the nation in 2017, Black Country, New Road present their unsettling and cacophonous debut.
Releasing via Dan Carey’s Speedy Wunderground label – which has been broadly acknowledged for having a firm grasp on the pulse of genre-defying talent in the capital – ‘Athen’s, France’ is a journey that continually shape-shifts with exhilarating results.
A tightly-wound percussive bed keeps proceedings from coming entirely unhinged as sardonic lyricism is channeled through a guttural snarl and a saxophone abrasively skronks amid heady swathes of violin and analogue synths. Formulating apt comparisons for the South London band is no simple feat, but think Gang Of Four and Godspeed You! Black Emperor jamming to Naked City.
Discussing the show at East London’s Moth Club where Speedy Wunderground and Black Country, New Road first came in to contact, Pierre Hall said of the sextet’s performance,
“It was incredible. Every song twisted and turned in ways you didn’t expect, and lyrically, Isaac had this whole The Fall meets (William) Burroughs cut-ups thing going on, the lyrics seemed to tumble out of him – but they were clever and acerbic in equal measure. It was captivating to watch.”
Listen to ‘Athen’s, France’ below.
‘Athen’s, France’ releases physically via Speedy Wunderground on March 8th. Pre-order the limited 7″ single here.
Words by Sam Wilkinson.
Like this article? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more.
Fruit and Grooves Collective 