10 Most Creative Rock Bands Of The 2010s
5. Black Midi
Admittedly, black midi (yes, it’s stylized in all lowercase) haven’t been around for long; in fact, they formed in 2017 and have released only two studio records (with the first, Schlagenheim, arriving in June of 2019). Therefore, it’s a testament to their resourceful and skilled unconventionality that they earn a place here.
Named after the Japanese music genre, they fuse aspects of math rock, post-punk, jazz fusion, noise rock, and more to yield pieces that have as much in common with Sufjan Stevens, Minus the Bear, and The Mars Volta as with Pixies and The Velvet Underground. This was best exemplified during their now legendary performance at Iceland Airwaves in 2018.
As for Schlagenheim itself, it incorporated new textures (including organ, banjo, drum machines, synths, and even accordion) to test new limits. Opener 953 alone interweaves sparsely rustic segments (narrated by the distinguished timbre of Geordie Greep) with Radiohead-esque thrashy art rock. Next, Speedway evokes the cosmic jamming of early Pink Floyd before pieces like Years Ago, Of Schlagenheim, and Western channel the destructive absurdities of Captain Beefheart, Anekdoten and Oingo Boingo.
Without a doubt, black midi entered the second half of the 2010s with resolute determination and inspired ideas.