Brighton-born, four-piece Black Honey are back with their second album Written and Directed and have once again released an absolute winner.
After the release of their self-titled debut album (2018), the band was hit with a wave of success. Hitting the top 40s, Black Honey travelled the world, performing the album and blowing away audiences each and every time. From Glastonbury to supporting Queens of The Stone age, 2019 was a year defined by triumph. As a long-time fan of Black Honey, myself, I fell in love with their music because of their unique sound. Vocalist Izzy Baxter has an incredible voice, full of grit and yet soft and sweet at the same time. It would encaptivate any audience, and I’ve seen it happen myself.
So, when the promotional email mentioned that Black Honey’s sound has changed slightly, I was worried. I’ll admit I was a little concerned about what, exactly, that could mean, and I’m sure many other fans are in the same boat. But, after listening to Written and Directed, I can assure you that signature Black Honey sound is still present, Baxter is still bad-ass, and their music is just as aesthetic and hard-hitting as ever.
Written and Directed was written throughout 2019, and the band recorded and wrote it in the spaces between performances. It’s definitely a tour-baby album, and it reflects that. After the first album was so successful, their lives changed forever as did the world surrounding them. So it’s no surprise that the lyrics on this ten-track album are eerie and captivating, with a myriad of important messages behind them. From exploring femininity to power to identity, it touches on these subjects with a gentle, but firm hand. Mostly, it seeks to feel the gap of femininity left in the rock industry that many women recognise, by using a clear, female narrator throughout.
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The album opens with “I Like the Way You Die”, and from the very first second you can tell that Black Honey’s approach to sound has changed. It opens with an intense, pounding drum beat, accompanied by a low, bass riff. However, when Baxter’s voice comes in, it’s like a moment of comfort and recognition. Her voice is unique, especially when paired with the effects they use, and it immediately makes the listener realise that this is a Black Honey album. When the chorus hits, the repeated line “I Like the Way You Die” creates a catchy, unforgettable rhythm that you’ll have stuck in your head for days. The way bassist Tommy Taylor and drummer Alex Woodward introduce and strip back the heavy undertones create a distinct rhythm throughout the song, almost as a tonal indicator. The duo scale back and intensify the song at will, and it flows seamlessly. This song is an energetic, upbeat start to the album that grabs listeners, pulling them in in typical Black Honey fashion.
Out of the ten tracks, half have already been released to the public. So, rather than rehashing material that already exists, I’ll be focusing primarily on content that has not yet been released, to give you a taste of what to expect upon listening to these mysterious tracks.
The next song on the album that I’ll be talking about is the fourth track, “Back of The Bar”. Unlike the first three, thing song opens with a slow, rhythmic sound, as well as Baxter’s untouched vocals. It’s sweeter, lighter than the others, and more representative of their first album. It’s a throwback to their original sound, and the chorus is something special. The lyrics “all I do, is dream of you” and “dancing on my own tonight” are sung in the most bittersweet way. Her voice, while beautiful, is filled with longing. The song carries the same tune and weight throughout, which is a change from the previous songs. “Back of The Bar” is a song that I just know is going to be especially amazing live, and I can’t wait to hear that experience for myself.
The 9th track, “Fire”, is an empowering, and uplifting song about doing what you want, regardless of what other people think about you. The anything-goes-attitude of “we don’t care what you have to say” creates a safe space for listeners to be exactly who they are, even if it’s just to let go for the three minutes this song plays. The line “we’re fire” is explicit in it’s metaphor for free-movement and inability to be tamed. The message in this song is so beautiful, as is the music itself. The combination of their usual members and newly- introduced brass instruments create a joyous atmosphere, and the whole song just feels very free moving. Like “Back of The Bar”, it’s a song that you know will be absolutely incredible live. Like many of Black Honey’s songs, “Fire” is the song you want playing as you speed down a cliff-edged highway in a blue, vintage, with the wind in your hair and the ocean at your side. Captivating meanings aside, it feels very cinematic, and it forces you to listen until the very last note. Songs like this almost transport you to another world, another time, and Black Honey has that science down to a T.
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The album ends on “Gabrielle”, a hauntingly soft story of a young women who seems to have power over the men. In a similar fashion to “Jolene” by Dolly Parton or “Arabella” by the Arctic Monkeys, Black Honey have created a feminine song of a woman’s influence over men, and a narrator who seems to covet that power. The line “Gabrielle, you’ve got him underneath your spell” makes this very clear. However, musically, the song creeps forward sweetly, inching towards the album conclusion. It contrasts the hot and heavy introduction we had to Written and Directed and is simply beautiful. It is truly the perfect end to the album.
Overall, Written and Directed is a symbol of Black Honey growing as a band, while also staying true to their roots. The way they keep true to their signature sound and styles while also tackling increasingly mature themes and meanings proves that Black Honey can do and achieve just about anything if they put their minds to it. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.
Written & Directed is out on March 19th
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