Friends In Noise
| Friends In Noise | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by Black Market Karma | |
| Released | 13 January 2023 |
| Genre | Alternative rock, electronica, psychedelic rock, psychedelic pop, psychedelia, neo-psychedelia |
| Length | 31 minutes |
| Label | Flower Power Records |
Friends In Noise is a collection of collaborative songs between English rock band Black Market Karma and artists Joakim Ahlund (Les Big Byrd), Tess Parks, The Underground Youth, The Confederate Dead and Ruari Meehan.[1]
The tracks are rooted in music connection from touring and was recorded sporadically over a period of 9 years.[2]
It was released on 13 January 2023 by Flower Power Records[3] and pressed on 500 copies of black vinyl. The announcement coincided with Black Market Karma being publicly confirmed as openers for The Black Angels on their 2023 European tour.[4]
The release was supported by the premiering of two singles The Sky Was All Diseased on 2 of November 2022[5] and Aping Flair on 6 December 2022.[6]
Four music videos accompanied the record featuring footage of all six artists.[7]
Critical reception[edit]
The album has received a warm reception from listeners and publishers alike with individual tracks repeatedly praised.
Backseat Mafia's Arun Kendall describes Wonky as "a glorious scuzzy shoegaze blast that fuses a Jesus and Mary Chain insolence with a Velvet Underground drone, all wrapped up in a sixties sparkle. It swaggers, it prowls, it scowls with a black leather-jacketed sneer and yet scales immeasurable pop heights with a fuzzy bravado. Released through Flower Power Records, the track comes off Black Market Karma’s recent eleventh album, ‘Friends in Noise’ and is an absolute cathartic rocket-fueled blast of goodness."[8]
The Sky Was All Diseased was featured as Stereo Embers' Track Of The Day with Alex Green describing, "While the song aches beautifully away, a shiny guitar line appears like the sun poking through the clouds only to be swallowed in seconds again by the darkness. It's hard to imagine a number that can be this deceptively catchy."[9]
The Big Takeover's Dave Franklin observes, “although Belton finds himself co-writing and collaborating with artists from across the musical spectrum, there is absolute consistency to the results, the album seemingly having one foot in a version of the sixties that didn't quite exist and the other striding forward into a new horizon yet to be fully realized. More than that, it all sounds, to a greater degree, like a Black Market Karma record, which must speak volumes about Stanley Belton's exercise and control.”[10]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Aping Flair" (with Ruari Meehan) | 5:30 |
| 2. | "Wonky" (with The Underground Youth) | 4:12 |
| 3. | "The Sky Was All Diseased" (with Tess Parks) | 6:11 |
| 4. | "Heady Ideas" (Joakim Åhlund Remix) | 3:56 |
| 5. | "War In The Streets" (Stanley Belton Remix) | 4:33 |
| 6. | "Ageing Boy" (with The Confederate Dead) | 7:04 |
Credits[edit]
1. Aping Flair – Black Market Karma & Ruari Meehan. Written by Stanley Belton & Ruari Meehan. Instruments: Drums, Guitar, Vocals, Keys, Percussion by Stanley Belton. Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals by Ruari Meehan. Recorded & Mixed in London by Stanley Belton.
2. Wonky – Black Market Karma & The Underground Youth. Written by Stanley Belton & Craig Dyer. Instruments: Drums, Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Keys by Stanley Belton. Guitar, Vocals by Craig Dyer. Recorded by Stanley Belton & Craig Dyer in London & Berlin. Mixed by Stanley Belton.
3. The Sky Was All Diseased – Black Market Karma & Tess Parks. Written by Stanley Belton & Tess Parks. Instruments: Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys, Percussion, Vocals. Vocals by Tess Parks. Recorded & Mixed in London by Stanley Belton.
4. Heady Ideas – Joakim Ahlund Remix. Written by Stanley Belton. Remixed by Joakim Ahlund who added synthesisers, drums & percussion. Recorded in London & Stockholm.
5. War In The Streets – Stan Belton Remix. Written by Joakim Ahlund & Frans Johansson (Les Big Byrd). Remixed by Stanley Belton. Recorded in Stockholm & London. Extra drums, guitar, keyboards and percussion were recorded for this version by Stanley Belton at his studio.
6. Ageing Boy – Black Market Karma & The Confederate Dead. Written by Butchy Davy & Stanley Belton.
All songs mastered by Stanley Belton.[11]
References[edit]
- ^ Zivkovic, Ljubinko (12 January 2023). "Review: Psych band Black Market Karma's EP 'Friends in Noise'". Rock At Night.
- ^ Yarde, Alex. "London Psychedelic Rock Natives Black Market Karma Presents the Latest Audio-Visual Offering From Their Eleventh Full-Length Album 'Friends in Noise' (Out Now via Flower Power Records)!". Good Men Project.
- ^ "Black Market Karma – Friends". Discogs. 13 January 2023.
- ^ Tierney, Eugene. "Black Market Karma announces 'Friends In Noise' LP And European Tour Dates With The Black Angels". NYRD Cast.
- ^ "Black Market Karma • The Sky Was All Diseased (With Tess Parks)". Selection Sorties.
- ^ "Black Market Karma and Ruari Meehan release groovadelic 'Aping Flair' single". Skylight Magazine.
- ^ "Flower Power Records". YouTube.
- ^ Kendall, Arun (26 June 2023). "Premiere: Black Market Karma Exclusively Unveil Their Video For The Anthemic Shoegaze Psychedelic Joys Of 'wonky', Featuring Craig Dyer (The Underground Youth)". Backseat Mafia.
- ^ Green, Alex (November 2022). "Stereo Embers' TRACK OF THE DAY: Black Market Karma And Tess Parks' "The Sky Was All Diseased"". Backseat Mafia.
- ^ Franklin, Dave. "Friends In Noise – Black Market Karma (Flower Power Records)". The Big Takeover.
- ^ "Black Market Karma – Friends In Noise". Bandcamp.