Black Box Recorder

2025-09-08T10:28:24Z

86.26.75.54: Elaboration on why the band went on hiatus.

{{Short description|English rock group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{about|the English indie band|the recording device|Flight recorder|other uses|Black box (disambiguation)}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Black Box Recorder
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| origin = [[London]], England
| genre = [[Indie pop]], [[indie rock]], [[synth-pop]], [[spoken word]]
| years_active = 1998–2003, 2007–2010
| label =
| associated_acts = [[The Auteurs]] Baader Meinhof [[Art Brut]] [[Keith Top of the Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band]]
| current_members = [[Luke Haines]] [[John Moore (British musician)|John Moore]] [[Sarah Nixey]]
| past_members =
| website =
}}

'''Black Box Recorder''' were an English [[indie rock]] [[musical ensemble|band]]. They debuted in 1998 with ''[[England Made Me (Black Box Recorder album)|England Made Me]]'' and followed this up with ''[[The Facts of Life (music)|The Facts of Life]]'', which gave them their first [[hit record|hit]] with the [[single (music)|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 [[A-side and B-side|B-sides]], [[cover version]]s and [[remix]]es.

Black Box Recorder consisted of [[Sarah Nixey]], [[Luke Haines]] (of [[The Auteurs]]), and [[John Moore (British musician)|John Moore]] (formerly of [[The Jesus and Mary Chain]]). Moore and Nixey married in 2001, and had one child. Despite divorcing in 2006, the pair have continued to work together over the years.

Although there was no official announcement of the band's split, Black Box Recorder were on hiatus during the mid-2000s after their contract with One Little Independent ended. 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 (musician)|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.<ref name= "Luminaire">{{cite news |last=Hubbard |first=Michael |url= https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/live/black-box-recorder-luminaire-london |title=Black Box Recorder @ Luminaire, London |work=[[musicOMH]] |date=18 February 2009|accessdate=3 April 2020}}</ref>

A new album was planned for 2009, however, the record was never released. On 16 April 2010, the band announced a 'final statement' after releasing their last single, "Keep It in the Family" b/w "Do You Believe in God?" on 6 May 2010.<ref>[http://pitchfork.com/news/38518-black-box-recorder-break-up/ Black Box Recorder Break Up | News]. Pitchfork (2010-04-16). Retrieved on 2012-05-03.</ref>

On 17 November 2023, a remastered version of ''England Made Me'' was released on Spotify for the 25th anniversary of the album.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0Gguoe8P0n0DgptjqDn3FV?si=2DsBMvv1SBOiD09C0UA0ig |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=open.spotify.com}}</ref>

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album details
!| Peak positions
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:50px;"| [[UK Albums Chart|UK]] <ref name="Chart Log">{{cite web|url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_B.HTM|title=Chart Log UK: Darren B - David Byrne|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref>
|-
| 1998
| style="text-align:left;"| '''''[[England Made Me (Black Box Recorder album)|England Made Me]]'''''
* Release date: 20 July 1998
* Label: [[Chrysalis Records]]
| 110
|-
| 2000
| style="text-align:left;"| '''''[[The Facts of Life (album)|The Facts of Life]]'''''
* Release date: 1 May 2000
* Label: [[Nude Records]]
| 37
|-
| 2003
| style="text-align:left;"| '''''[[Passionoia]]'''''
* Release date: 3 March 2003
* Label: [[One Little Indian Records]]
| 179
|}

===Compilation albums===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Year
! Album details
|-
| 2001
| style="text-align:left;"| '''''[[The Worst of Black Box Recorder]]'''''
* Release date: 21 August 2001
* Label: [[Jetset Records]]
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Single
!| Peak positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:50px;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]] <ref name="Chart Log" />
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1998
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Child Psychology (song)|Child Psychology]]"
| 82
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''England Made Me''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "England Made Me"
| 89
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2000
| style="text-align:left;"| "The Facts of Life"
| 20
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''The Facts of Life''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "The Art of Driving"
| 53
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2003
| style="text-align:left;"| "These Are the Things"
| 91
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''Passionoia''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "The School Song"
| 102
|-
| colspan="5" style="font-size:8pt" |
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.sarahnixey.com/ Sarah Nixey's official website]
*[http://www.halfawake.co.uk/ John Moore's official website / blog]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050521022952/http://www.lukehaines.co.uk/ Luke Haines' official website]

{{The Auteurs}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:English rock music groups]]
[[Category:Indie rock groups from London]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1998]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2010]]
[[Category:English musical trios]]
[[Category:Luke Haines]]
[[Category:1998 establishments in England]]

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Black Box Recorder