Black Box Recorder

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Black Box Recorder
Origin London, England
Genres Indie pop, indie rock, synth-pop, spoken word
Years active1998–2003, 2007–2010
Members Luke Haines
John Moore
Sarah Nixey

Black Box Recorder were an English indie rock band. They debuted in 1998 with England Made Me and followed this up with The Facts of Life , which gave them their first hit with the single of the same name in April 2000. Their third album, Passionoia , was released in 2003. There is also a compilation album, The Worst of Black Box Recorder , a collection of B-sides, cover versions and remixes.

Contents

Black Box Recorder consisted of Sarah Nixey, Luke Haines (of The Auteurs), and John Moore (formerly of The Jesus and Mary Chain). Moore and Nixey married in 2001, and had one child. They divorced in 2006.

Although no official announcement of the band's split was made, Black Box Recorder were on hiatus during the mid 2000s. The band collaborated with Art Brut during 2007, and released the single "Christmas Number One" under the name The Black Arts. In October 2008 the band played live at the Nick Sanderson tribute concert at the London Forum.

In late 2008 it was announced the band would be playing a gig at The Luminaire on 18 February 2009. The gig quickly sold out, and a second appearance at the same venue announced. These sold out shows were the band's first headlining appearances in five years. [1]

Although an album was planned for 2009, the record was never released. On 16 April 2010, the band announced it would formally split after releasing a final single, "Keep It in the Family" b/w "Do You Believe in God?" on 6 May 2010. [2]

On 17 November 2023, a remastered version of England Made Me was released on Spotify for the 25th anniversary of the album. [3]

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbum detailsPeak positions
UK
[4]
1998 England Made Me 110
2000 The Facts of Life 37
2003 Passionoia 179

Compilation albums

YearAlbum details
2001 The Worst of Black Box Recorder

Singles

YearSinglePeak positionsAlbum
UK
[4]
1998"Child Psychology"82England Made Me
"England Made Me"89
2000"The Facts of Life"20The Facts of Life
"The Art of Driving"53
2003"These Are the Things"91Passionoia
"The School Song"102
2007"Christmas Number One" (with Art Brut)Non-album song
2010"Keep It in the Family" b/w "Do You Believe in God?"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

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<i>England Made Me</i> (Black Box Recorder album) 1998 studio album by Black Box Recorder

England Made Me, the debut studio album of English rock band Black Box Recorder, was released through Chrysalis Records on 20 July 1998. After releasing albums with the Auteurs and as Baader Meinhof, in early 1997, musician Luke Haines formed Black Box Recorder with John Moore and Sarah Nixey. Through most of 1997, the band recorded their debut album with Auteurs collaborator-and-producer Phil Vinall in several London studios, including Milo and The Drugstore. The country folk, easy listening and pop album is named for Graham Greene's 1935 novel eponymous novel, and has been compared to the work of Portishead and Young Marble Giants. Bontempi drums and a radio scanner, and samples are used on several tracks. The songs' lyrics criticize the mundane experience of living and growing up in post-Restoration England, and explore the themes of single mothers and teenage sex.

<i>The Facts of Life</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Black Box Recorder

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<i>Passionoia</i> 2003 studio album by Black Box Recorder

Passionoia is the third and final studio album by British rock band Black Box Recorder, released on 3 March 2003 through One Little Indian. Following the promotional cycles for the band's The Facts of Life (2000) and musician Luke Haines' The Oliver Twist Manifesto (2001), they started working on their next album. The band and Pete Hofmann produced the recording sessions; in the midst of this, their label Nude Records went bankrupt. Passionoia is a dance-pop album that was compared to the works of Pet Shop Boys and Saint Etienne, building on the lyrical theme of Britishness that they first explored on their debut album England Made Me (1998).

<i>The Worst of Black Box Recorder</i> 2001 compilation album by Black Box Recorder

The Worst of Black Box Recorder is a 2001 album by Black Box Recorder, whose members include Luke Haines, Sarah Nixey and John Moore. It is a compilation of B-sides from the singles of England Made Me and The Facts Of Life.

Sarah Anne Nixey is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the vocalist in Black Box Recorder. Her debut solo album, Sing, Memory, was released on 19 February 2007, followed by Brave Tin Soldiers, released on 9 May 2011. Her latest album, Night Walks, was released on 5 October 2018. Nixey currently lives in London with her husband, music producer Jimmy Hogarth, whom she married in late 2010 and has one son, Reuben and a daughter, Lola. Nixey has a daughter, Ava from her previous marriage with John Moore.

<i>Sing, Memory</i> 2007 studio album by Sarah Nixey

Sing, Memory is the debut album from British Black Box Recorder vocalist, Sarah Nixey. Recorded in London, and produced by James Banbury, the album is split into two halves, Sing and Memory. The title is probably a reference to Vladimir Nabokov's autobiography, Speak, Memory. It was released in the UK on 19 February 2007.

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References

  1. Hubbard, Michael (18 February 2009). "Black Box Recorder @ Luminaire, London". musicOMH . Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  2. Black Box Recorder Break Up | News. Pitchfork (2010-04-16). Retrieved on 2012-05-03.
  3. "Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Chart Log UK: Darren B - David Byrne". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 15 June 2010.