We named UK sonic explorers Black Midi a Band To Watch off the strength of their constantly evolving live show and a small pile of fascinating singles like "Crow's Perch" and "Talking Heads." The next step on their slightly unconventional path: They just announced their debut album Schlagenheim, and they're not revealing any of the song titles until release day. All we know is it has nine tracks totaling 43 minutes.
I know, I know: The last thing we need is a return to a decade ago when artists built buzz by being ~mysterious~. On the other hand, it's at least marginally refreshing to see a promising young band forgo the usual formulaic album rollout. Black Midi have bought themselves a lot of goodwill, and they're using it to pique my interest via the power of withheld information. Human psychology is weird, though Black Midi may perhaps be weirder. I guess we'll find out how weird they are circa Schlagenheim's 6/21 release date.
In addition to the album announcement, the band has announced its first substantial North American tour dates. Check out their full itinerary below.
TOUR DATES:
05/25 - Totnes, UK @ Sea Change
05/30 - Nimes, FR @ This Is Not A Love Song Festival
05/31 - Düdingen, CH @ Bad Bonn Kilbi
06/01 - Neustrelitz, DE @ Immergut Festival
06/05 - Thu. June 6 - Gothenberg, SE @ Garden Festival
06/08 - Sun. June 9 - Paris, FR @ Villette Sonique
06/10 - Moers, DE @ Moers Festival
06/15 - Bergen, NO @ Bergenfest
06/18 - London, UK @ EartH (Concert Hall)
06/20 - Bristol, UK @ Fiddlers
06/21 - Liverpool, UK @ Phase One
06/22 - Glasgow, UK @ Mono
06/23 - Nottingham, UK @ Contemporary Space
07/05 - Roskilde, DK @ Roskilde Festival
07/05-07 - Moscow, RU @ Bolь Festival
07/12 - Madrid, ES @ Mad Cool Festival
07/14 - Nijmegen, NL @ Valkhof Festival
07/18 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
07/21 - Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
07/22 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
07/23 - Madison, WI @ The Terrace at University of Wisconsin
07/26 - Hyéres, FR @ Midi Festival
08/02 - Sun. Aug. 4 - Katowice, PL @ Off Festival
08/04 - Waterford, IE @ All Together Now
08/08 - Sat. Aug. 10 - Rees Haldern, DE @ Haldern Pop
08/10 - Oslo, NO @ Øya Festival
08/16 - Viana do Castelo, PT @ Paredes de Coura
08/16-18 - Biddinghuizen, NL @ Lowlands Festival
08/24 - Gueret, DR @ Check In Festival
08/29 - Sun. Sept. 1 - Dorset, UK @ End of the Road Festival
09/05 - Tokyo, JP @ Unit
09/06 - Osaka, JP @ Conpasss
09/07 - Kyoto, JP @ Metro
09/18 - Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
09/19 - Paris, FR @ La Boule Noire
09/21 - Bordeaux, FR @ Barbey Indie Club
09/25 - Lisbon, PT @ ZBD
10/02 - Zagreb, HR @ Mocvara
10/03 - Bratislava, SK @ Fuga
10/04 - Budapest, HU @ Durer’s (small room)
10/05 - Prague, CZ @ Underdogs’
10/07 - Berlin, DE @ Lido
10/08 - Hamburg, DE @ Kampnagel
10/09 - Cologne, DE @ Bumann & Sohn
10/10 - Brussels, BE @ Beursschouwburg
11/07 - Detroit, MI @ Deluxx Fluxx
11/08 - Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground
11/09 - Montreal, QC @ Les Foufounes Électriques
11/12 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
11/13 - Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
11/15 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle (Back Room)
11/16 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
11/17 - Nashville, TN @ High Watt
11/19 - Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon
11/20 - Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon
11/21 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
11/23 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
11/24 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
Schlagenheim is out 6/21 on Rough Trade. Pre-order it here.
