WE’RE in the midst of a summer heatwave that has us asking if Scotland is just a warm country now, but it also means it’s perfect timing for the flurry of activity over at Queens Park Arena throughout July.
Previously quite a criminally underused venue for gigs, we’re delighted by the choice of location for the return of Black Country, New Road – especially as it’s just down the road. And also that it’s a beautifully still summers night, ideal for their orchestral, beautifully crafted arrangements.
It’s no secret that the band have essentially reinvented themselves since the departure of their frontman Isaac Wood – as heard on their last album ‘Forever Howlong’. Shedding their twitchy, angsty post-punk influences, their now defined by their luscious melodies, delicately crafted instrumentals and gorgeous harmonies led by their three frontwomen Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery and May Kershaw.
It’s these harmonies that are heard around the small ampitheatre first on ‘Strangers’ from the ‘Help (2)’ album – deceptive its delicacy before building to a heavier rock instrumental. The instrumentals are wonderfully layered throughout with saxophone, mandolin and flutes, holding the crowd to quiet in their most intimate moments, and garnering big cheers for the odd sax solo or galloping finale.
This is where they truly excel – their master of rhythm and tempo, with episodic structures that resemble jazz and progressive folk. ‘Besties’ with its baroque keyboard flourishes, is a big highlight while they treat us to a brilliant take on ‘Band on the Run’ by Wings. Switching vocal duties throughout, it all flowed brilliantly together, fully immersing the crowd and reaching a climactic high on the completely unpredictable and intensely brilliant ‘For the Cold Country’.
Whatever they lend their hand to, it seems to work – and you sense there’s more to come from them.
