black midi

Black Midi is a band with an uncanny ability to shift between post-punk, math rock, free jazz, and prog rock with great fluidity and in a way that makes each such sudden turn sound like the obvious next step once it happens. They create uncompromising and challenging music that is jarring, dissonant, and explosive but can also be smooth and gentle, carrying an elegiac swoon. It is a tricky approach for sure, but they pull it off without breaking a sweat through sheer musicianship and boldness: Singer-guitarist Geordie Greep is a fireball; bass player Cameron Picton is brilliant; and drummer Morgan Simpson is phenomenal. They started out as a post-punk band playing along the harsh and edgy lines of Gilla Band and Glintshake, but embarked on their path to defy genres almost immediately. The result is a volatile and complex music that is not easy listening by any stretch of the imagination, but a wholly fulfilling experience for the musically adventurous.