Released: 2021

Genres: Brutal Prog, Avant-Prog, Jazz Rock, Math Rock, Art Rock

The Musiquarium’s Cavalcade Review Score: 10 out of 10

On black midi’s sophomore album, the prog group expands upon the sonic palette set by their 2019 debut, Schlagenheim, with something even jazzier.

The album starts off with the chaotic John L (L as in 50), which musically sounds like a descendent of a King Crimson track, like The Great Deceiver. Marlene Dietrich has the band slow things down, with some sensual jazz and lyrics about the titular actress/singer.

Chondromalacia Patella and Slow are two tracks straight out of the Frank Zappa playbook; I’d like to think that they would have made the notoriously critical and dismissive musician proud. Hogwash and Balderdash is another track filled with absolute madness, followed by the calmer acoustic guitars of Ascending Forth.

Cavalcade is a fantastic follow-up to black midi’s debut, adding even more ingredients to a recipe that was already strong to begin with.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view black midi on Discogs.

Back to the 2021 Album Guide or the black midi Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard