Album Review: Black Futures - 'Never Not Nothing'
‘Never Not a Doomsday Cult. Never Not Heroes of the Multiverse’ – Black Futures are ambiguous, entrancing, and quite frankly, a bit bonkers. At the heart of their debut album ‘Never Not Nothing’ is a message that transcends the insignificance of our individual places in the world – togetherness to achieve complete anarchy and annihilation of the controlling powers that be, as means of breaking free from the monotony of existence.
Despite the band releasing near-on half of the songs in the run up to the album, when presented in such a complete way they take on a new lease of life and give us an insight into what the soundtrack would be to our desolate lives, post-apocalyptic breakdown. The layering of instruments that are polished with the sleekest of synths makes for an all-encompassing aural experience. It feels as though you’re a part of something huge that is simultaneously being explored, and ravaged.
The mix of electro-punk and nihilistic lyricism infused with old school hip-hop vibes is an attack on the senses. There’s a dichotomy that comes with the ranges of styles on ‘Never Not Nothing’ but they are delivered with such seamlessness – from the rap verse in ‘Love’ to the crossovers of garage, house and punk in ‘Youthman’, Black Futures are a limitless force to be reckoned with, and if they are to be our soundtrack to the apocalypse, I think we’re in safe hands, as there is something extra-terrestrial that lingers in the undertones of Black Futures’ sound.
‘Body & Soul’ is a transcendental take on what life looks like when two different worlds collide. You are taken to the heights of human consciousness as the verses build-up in rapture. Before you know it, you’re dropped into the pits of the netherworld where all the weirdos are having a sweaty industrial rave, and meeting the little green neighbours. ‘Tunnel Vision’ evokes a kind of synaesthesia experience, and ‘Gutters’ is a contemplation of existence with its mantra-like verses and pounding war drums.
Despite the heavy content explored in ‘Never Not Nothing’ the whole album is simply a optimistically pessimistic doomsday banger filled with songs that you can’t help but move to. When we’re on the wrong side of the powers that be and find ourselves in need of having our spirits lifted, Black Futures will be the ones to fill the void with their idiosyncratic, satirical, genius.
Words by Tyler Damara Kelly