Black Country, New Road - Live at Bush Hall Album Review

Black Country New Road’s first project since the departure of Isaac Wood Live at Bush Hall, is a masterpiece in self exploration told through a live performance album.

Black Country, New Road, are an English art rock band founded in the mid 2010s. Following the release of multiple singles, “Athens, France” and “Sunglasses”, in 2019, the band released their debut album For the First Time in February 2021. The following year, Ants From Up There, their sophomore album, was met with widespread critical acclaim.

Almost immediately after the release of Ants From Up There, lead vocalist and guitarist Isaac Wood announced his departure from the band. Since the change had been known by the other band members preceding the announcement, they had already started to work on music without Wood. In March 2023, BCNR released Live at Bush Hall, an album consisting of songs performed across two days at Bush Hall in London. 

The band has been described as having sonic roots in post punk, and art rock. Certainly the latter has become more prevalent and accurate in describing Live at Bush Hall. The album is sonically lush, with beautiful melodies that lend to a wonderful listening experience. Songs like “The Boy” nicely weave together flute, saxophone, and violin instrumentals. Other songs such as “Across The Pond Friend,” produce a vibrant tune by deftly combining guitar riffs and violin refrains.

“Across The Pond Friend” is one of my favorite songs on this album, and possibly one of my favorite BCNR songs in general. I really appreciate the synchronized instrumental and story told through the lyrics. The instrumental starts with a slightly upbeat but nervous energy that matches the idea of the singer stepping out of their comfort zone and traveling on their own. The tone quiets on singular banal lines such as “Switched between some dull movies I couldn't stand,” but then builds into an explosion of saxophone and guitar as the chorus comes in with “In my dream you came running to me // And then fall back into my arms // Wake up,” as if the narrator is becoming hyper aware of themselves and where they were. 

One intriguing underlying themes of this album is self-worth. “Laughing Song” is a moment in their performance that really captures strong emotions of inadequacy and the introspection one experiences at the end of a relationship. Throughout the song, the narrator asks “Well, what does that say? // What does that say?” about why their relationship came into existence, if they are responsible for its end, and what it means to laugh when reflecting on their past relationship. These three instances tie to the beginnings of a narrator’s journey to discover self through reflecting on their actions and experiences. I appreciate the callback to the other songs in the performance, “Laughing, I Won't Always Love You, Trousers, Turbines, Up Song, Dancers” serving as a metaphor for the narrator processing their emotions to come to a moment of peace.

I think the album thematically and sonically hits its peak on “Pigs/Turbines”. I love the portrayal of the self as a pig who learns to fly as it pertains to this idea of self worth, acceptance, and coming out of your comfort zone. The imagery of , “I'll turn into a witch tonight,” speaks to how the narrator feels down about themselves. Feeling protected by “The bubble that you left then // I think it's safer than the cold” — is a great line calling back to the comfort of others being a stabilizing but potentially limiting force as described on “Laughing Song.” The narrator’s journey through discovering self worth is tied to the ability to fly, “I'm flying away but I think I saw some turbines // Turning beneath me.” Pigs are wingless animals, and the turbines act as a crutch — almost like a coping mechanism. Before being able to fly on their own, the narrator must confront themselves, crying “Don’t waste your pearls on me // I’m only a pig.” As the narrator faces themselves, they eventually become comfortable with their own abilities, “Without a broom or bubble // You learnt to fly all by yourself” displaying their own confidence in their ability to live. The song ends with an instrumental outro that mirrors a plane propeller starting, and a metaphorical plane that is the self taking off for flight. Overall, just a wonderful song with extremely vivid imagery that is a nice tie up on the coming into your own and learning how to live. 

I really appreciate the artistry of BCNR as demonstrated by the live performance aspect of the album. It’s refreshing to hear references to the band’s stage set up at Bush Hall, saying “congratulations everyone we made it to the end of the year, happy prom night,“ on “Up Song.” When listening to this album, it really feels like you’re there at Bush Hall, jamming out with the the members of the band and having a good time. 

Ultimately, I think this is one of the few albums to come out this year that I have thoroughly enjoyed front to back. There’s always something new every time I go back and listen, in terms of the sound or the lyrics. For sure this is a performance you all should take the time to listen to and enjoy. 

Favorite tracks: “Up Song”, “Across the Pond Friend”, “Laughing Song”, and “Pigs/Turbines”

Rating: 8.6/10