Black Country, New Road Explores Love In All Forms

Graphic by Maddie Cohen

by sophie parrish

After a two-year studio hiatus, Black Country, New Road are back with their new single “Besties.” A continuation of the whimsicality of Live at Bush Hall (2023) and the instrumentation of Ants From Up There (2022), “Besties” is a light-hearted anthem that speaks to the complexities of unrequited love. Beginning with a glittering flourish of harpsichord and saxophone, the track is immediately reminiscent of the band's prior tracks “Up Song” and “Intro.” Its initial capturing qualities are self-referential and mark yet another beginning for Black Country, New Road as they build towards capturing the indescribable quality they began their career with. In an abrupt change of pace, the delicate vocal quality of Jockstrap’s Georgia Ellery emerges as the debut of her lead vocal performance in Black Country, New Road. She is a perfect fit for the airy composition of the track’s playful verses. Yet, the truth found in the lines of the refrains almost juxtapose the sweetness of Ellery’s voice as she painfully admits the severity of her feelings, creating a clear distance between her and the subject of the song. From confessions of a transactional experience with a friend to their acknowledgement of unfulfillment with the relationship, the track's lyricism is playfully honest and further contributes to the band’s exploration of romantic relationships. The bridge builds between the platonic and the romantic as encapsulated in the last few lines: “Yeah, I came out and where were you? / I think you see right through me / Bestie, on my mind / Just lean into it.” With the weaving romantic and platonic themes, Black Country, New Road masterfully combines the evocative lyricism of their first album with the collaborative composition of their last. Evident through lyrics, instrumentalism, and the configuration of storytelling, the band has an admirable balance of both authenticity and intentionality that they’ve mastered over the past seven years. Yet, their strong and unique ability of building intensity is not showcased here. Lacking a real climax, the track's length does hinder its ability to compare to any of their usual devastating anthems. However, with the anticipated release of their upcoming Forever Howlong , the group is making a step in an intriguing direction. One that brings forward the individual voices of the group and bridges stylistic differences between both Live at Bush Hall and Ants From Up There. My admiration for the band only seems to grow as the album's April release date nears.