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Cavalcade Image
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 46 Ratings

  • Summary: The second full-length studio release for the British rock band was produced with John "Spud" Murphy (and one track by Marta Salogni).
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 22
  2. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Jun 4, 2021
    90
    Each track is a universe of its own, doing what art should do: using its own virtual space as an experimental testing ground to try those limits of taboo and impossibility that remain limited IRL. ... Cavalcade may prove to be one of the most accomplished albums of 2021; future classic of a happily undefined now-core genre. Humanity, level up. If they are giving us any taste of the immediate future, let the roaring twenties roll.
  2. Uncut
    May 25, 2021
    90
    What soon unfolds proves to be a profound evolution via the almost operatic crescendo that follows. Over the remaining five tracks, improvisational noise-rock gives way to more considered and structured songwriting, lush melodies and singer Geordie Greep’s new vocal style – which he croons with stirring tenderness. ... There’s not a single predictable second to be found on Cavalcade. [Jun 2021, p.23]
  3. May 28, 2021
    90
    The confidence and style with which black midi has taken these risks has led to every gamble paying off. It’s hard to imagine any rock album this year beating Cavalcade in pure genius.
  4. Mojo
    May 25, 2021
    80
    Cavalcade harbours considerable thrills for those up to its challenges. [Jun 2021, p.83]
  5. May 28, 2021
    80
    It’s a successful evolution: the maelstrom of moods stormed across the LP is masterful, from Hogwash and Balderdash’s slapstick skronk-funk riffage and the mathy, spiralling Slow, to Diamond Stuff’s tidal post-rock and Dethroned’s convulsive bassline.
  6. May 27, 2021
    70
    Cavalcade is intentionally oversaturated and designed to knock listeners off balance, and at its best, the album's overpowering rush of sounds and ideas communicates the excitement and a sense of unlimited possibilities.
  7. Jun 1, 2021
    56
    Its moments of potential aren’t to be to be trifled with, but neither are they enough to elevate it from a stale sequence of overthought ideas, and this is a real tragedy given its stark contrast to the preview performance the band gave on KEXP back in April.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Dec 4, 2021
    10
    This album can only be described as unbelievably spectacular. This is definitely my album of the decade so far.
  2. Jun 2, 2021
    10
    Colour color; odour ogre symphony, lordee pedigree – clever test to ear, hear: chancellors, the best ever, beyond queer.

    %>% ; | ; 0
    Colour color; odour ogre symphony, lordee pedigree – clever test to ear, hear: chancellors, the best ever, beyond queer.

    %>%

    ; | ; 0 {oups}

    %>%

    Exclaim:
    "Modernizes a smart and well-expressing past party yacht fusion, Cavalcade is musicians evolving; it's beyond 'its' – as that record, their jazz calculated range ... is"

    %>%

    [zuzzy buzzy boyz]
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  3. May 28, 2021
    9
    A fantastic follow-up to a brilliant debut, this is confident, dense, intelligent, but above all thrilling and beautiful music. Hard toA fantastic follow-up to a brilliant debut, this is confident, dense, intelligent, but above all thrilling and beautiful music. Hard to categorise like Schlagenheim, I suppose its a mix of jazz, prog and post-rock? (some of the instrumentation in the more gentle moments reminds me of Wild Beasts, oddly) Haha, a mix of styles which really shouldnt work on paper, but with a band this adventurous and talented, it just does. Amazing. Expand
  4. May 29, 2021
    9
    I thought that black midi would struggle to top Schlagenheim and I was wondering where they would go after such an amazing album, however,I thought that black midi would struggle to top Schlagenheim and I was wondering where they would go after such an amazing album, however, after hearing early versions of John L and Chondromalacia Patella, I knew that this album was going to be bigger and better than the last one. Tracks such as Marlene Dietrich and Ascending Fourth makes you question if this was the same band you first heard in 2019. But they smash it out of the park on this. There wasn't much wrong with this album at all and I'm eager to see what's next for black midi.

    Best Tracks: John L, Chondromalacia Patella, Slow, Diamond Stuff, Dethroned, Hogwash and Balderdash, Ascending Fourth

    Worst Tracks: Marlene Dietrich if I had to pick one
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  5. Mar 1, 2022
    8
    21:15, smoky theatre somewhere in the basement of a shabby building in the worse neighbourhood of the metropolis: strange men in black21:15, smoky theatre somewhere in the basement of a shabby building in the worse neighbourhood of the metropolis: strange men in black turtlenecks with absent looks scoop up with rusty shovels the fragments of old psychedelic records and throw them into a prepared mixing bowl on the stage. Another member of this avant-garde theatre pours hectolitres of whiskey over the mix...
    ......that's exactly what Cavalcade is
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  6. Aug 12, 2021
    7
    Good album. Not quite as good as their first. Still great to have them around but I feel they need to branch out and push the boundaries a bitGood album. Not quite as good as their first. Still great to have them around but I feel they need to branch out and push the boundaries a bit more. Towards the end of the album I struggled to fully connect. Not without trying though - listened to it 4 times in a row. They have got so much promise though and can see them unleashing some awesome albums over the next decade but for me this was a temporary stumble. Expand

See all 10 User Reviews