Black Country, New Road announce new album ‘Forever Howlong’
Mercury Prize-nominees Black Country, New Road have unveiled details of their new album, Forever Howlong, and shared new single ‘Besties’.
The new album marks the first piece of new material from the London collective since the release of Ants From Up There in 2022, the same year that lead vocalist Isaac Wood departed. Black Country, New Road have since continued as a six-piece, releasing the live album Live at Bush Hall in 2023, with the new single ‘Besties’ the first taste of their sound as it evolves into this new chapter.
Black Country, New Road sought the assistance of producer James Ford for Forever Howlong, who notably produced Fontaines DC’s Romance last year. Ford is also a longtime collaborator of Arctic Monkeys, having produced their last four albums. Other significant credits on Ford’s CV include The Last Dinner Party’s debut LP, Prelude to Ecstasy, and Blur’s The Ballad of Darren.
Sadly, Ford recently revealed he would be taking a break from music for the foreseeable future following a leukaemia diagnosis he received over the festive period. However, his work on Forever Howlong was completed before Ford put his musical commitments on hold.
Under Ford’s supervision, Black Country, New Road have adapted their songwriting methods for Forever Howlong with Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery, and May Kershaw taking the lead in light of Wood’s departure.
According to Ellery, who is also a member of Jockstrap, this has added a new dynamic to their sound, noting, “It created a real through line for the album, having three girls singing. 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 set to arrive on April 4th via Ninja Tune. To keep fans content until then, they have shared the video for the new single ‘Besties’, directed by Rianne White, who says of her visuals: “Besties came into my world with a dance of feelings, with such an understood concept of exploring the core emotion of taking on the world, and its obstacles to be with her, the bestie, again.”
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