Cavalcade
by Black Midi
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
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  1. The Independent (UK)
    May 27, 2021
    60
    On Cavalcade, black midi feast on a smorgasbord of influences but the result at times can leave their sound meandering aimlessly.
  2. Slant Magazine
    May 25, 2021
    60
    It’s an atmosphere-focused album that attempts to express the nastier side of being alive. The result is evocative but not necessarily satisfying.
  3. Sputnikmusic
    Jun 1, 2021
    56
    Its moments of potential aren’t to be to be trifled with, but neither are they enough to elevate it from a stale sequence of overthought ideas, and this is a real tragedy given its stark contrast to the preview performance the band gave on KEXP back in April.

Awards & Rankings

95
#95 Most Discussed Album of 2021

User Reviews

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User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 46 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 46
  3. Negative: 1 out of 46
  1. thepacificgamer
    Jun 2, 2021
    10
    Colour color; odour ogre symphony, lordee pedigree – clever test to ear, hear: chancellors, the best ever, beyond queer.

    %>% ; | ; 0    Colour color; odour ogre symphony, lordee pedigree – clever test to ear, hear: chancellors, the best ever, beyond queer.

    %>%

    ; | ; 0 {oups}

    %>%

    Exclaim:
    "Modernizes a smart and well-expressing past party yacht fusion, Cavalcade is musicians evolving; it's beyond 'its' – as that record, their jazz calculated range ... is"

    %>%

    [zuzzy buzzy boyz]    … Full Review »
  2. bailey-
    May 29, 2021
    9
    I thought that black midi would struggle to top Schlagenheim and I was wondering where they would go after such an amazing album, however,I thought that black midi would struggle to top Schlagenheim and I was wondering where they would go after such an amazing album, however, after hearing early versions of John L and Chondromalacia Patella, I knew that this album was going to be bigger and better than the last one. Tracks such as Marlene Dietrich and Ascending Fourth makes you question if this was the same band you first heard in 2019. But they smash it out of the park on this. There wasn't much wrong with this album at all and I'm eager to see what's next for black midi.

    Best Tracks: John L, Chondromalacia Patella, Slow, Diamond Stuff, Dethroned, Hogwash and Balderdash, Ascending Fourth

    Worst Tracks: Marlene Dietrich if I had to pick one    … Full Review »
  3. Acid3P
    Mar 1, 2022
    8
    21:15, smoky theatre somewhere in the basement of a shabby building in the worse neighbourhood of the metropolis: strange men in black21:15, smoky theatre somewhere in the basement of a shabby building in the worse neighbourhood of the metropolis: strange men in black turtlenecks with absent looks scoop up with rusty shovels the fragments of old psychedelic records and throw them into a prepared mixing bowl on the stage. Another member of this avant-garde theatre pours hectolitres of whiskey over the mix...
    ......that's exactly what Cavalcade is    … Full Review »
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