Among the selection of musical performances promised by Cambridge Junction this month, two bands in particular stand out as striking a sonorous chord. The first is Black Midi, whose aversion to capitalisation epitomises their decidedly alternative approach. They’ll arrive on the scene on 15 November, offering a set that’s as dynamic as it is demonic. The band’s second studio album, Cavalcade, follows in the footsteps of its predecessor Schlagenheim with its similarly jagged edges, possessing a meticulously collaged quality that The Guardian described as a “freakish parade of prog-jazz extremity.”
The second comes in the shape of Black Country, New Road. Hailing from Cambridge, this seven-strong band crafts ominous soundscapes, twisting songs in and out of shape to create taut, knotted layers that intersect to form rich sonic narratives. The band has been garnering a buzz since first emerging back in 2018, and considering the 2021 release of their debut album For the First Time brought them a coveted Mercury Prize award nomination, it seems it’s only the beginning. Catch them on 30 November.