The Top 25 Albums Of 2021 (So Far): Black Midi - 'Cavalcade'

At times it feels like dissonant jazz, at times it feels like speed metal, at all times it feels exactly black midi. 

On Cavalcade - the UK group's follow-up to 2019's Schlagenheim - black midi track's cover everything from "a cult leader fallen on hard times and an ancient corpse found in a diamond mine to legendary cabaret singer Marlene Dietrich, strolling seductively past them". 

"When you’re listening, you can imagine all the characters form a sort of cavalcade," shared vocalist and bass player Cameron Picton. "Each tells their story one by one and as each track ends they overtake you, replaced by the next in line."

Moving on from the striking to the stunning at breakneck speed (see the transition between John L to Marlene Dietrich to Chondromalacia Patella for one such example), there's much to be taken away from the work on Cavalcade. 

"Maybe it’s a result of the way emerging artists discover and explore musical influences these days, or that in the current phase of contemporary music, collage is the most valued and sought after currency," read The Music's review on the album's release. 

"Regardless, adventurism and proficiency is clearly leading the way with this generation of UK artists and it’s the pure thrill of black midi’s organic and kaleidoscopic, kosmiche art-rock that makes Cavalcade a landmark album for these times."

Cavalcade isn't always the easiest listen but it will always be a worthwhile one.