Forever Howlong [CD]

Black Country, New Road – Forever Howlong [CD]

Forever Howlong is Black Country, New Roads first studio release since 2022’s UK 3 album Ants From Up There, which gave the band their second Top 5 UK album in 12 months alongside their Mercury Prize shortlisted debut For the first time, and follows 2023’s Live at Bush Hall, an album The Guardian claimed was a magical resurgence in a triumphant five-star review. Now, on studio album three, the band are once again building from the ground up in yet another miraculous musical transformation.The long-awaited new record was produced by James Ford (Fontaines D.C., Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode, Blur) and sees Black Country, New Road settled into a new shape in which vocal dutiesand most of the song writingis split between Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery, and May Kershaw. It created a real through line for the album, having three girls singing,” says Ellery. “It’s definitely very different to Ants From Up There, because of the female perspective – and the music we’ve made also compliments that.”Forever Howlong is an ambitious, meticulously detailed record that includes everything from folk to prog via baroque pop and touches of alt-rockwith nods to everything from Joanna Newsom to Randy Newman via Fiona Apple and Janis Ianyet all the while retaining that unmistakably unique sound that only this combination of musicians can come up with. Although hugely varied and expansive, the album also feels deeply cohesive and focused, as it takes three distinct voices and styles and seamlessly intersperses them into a new collective sound.1. Besties2. The Big Spin3. Socks4. Salem Sisters5. Two Horses6. Mary7. Happy Birthday8. For the Cold Country9. Nancy Tries to Take the Night10. Forever Howlong11. Goodbye (Dont Tell Me)