Black Midi was one of the most exciting and forward-thinking rock bands in recent years which made the news of their “indefinite hiatus” absolutely heart-breaking. However, fans weren’t given long to mourn the band as soon after the break-up, lead singer, Geordie Greep, announced his debut solo album: “The New Sound.”

“Terra,” the second track, takes a lot of influence from samba music with its plucky guitar, constant maraca and colorful horns. This song is Greep trying something new for him and crushing it with ease.

The lead single, “Holy, Holy,” is one of the best songs to ever come out of the Black Midi sphere with its unrelenting percussion and fast-paced electric guitars and synths. At first, Greep describes a charismatic man flirting with a woman at a bar. The man is quickly revealed to be a pathetic incel in the second half of the song as he details exactly how he wants this woman to flirt with him, all while constantly asking her, “How much will that cost?” The subject of this song could’ve easily taken a dark or sad turn but Greep’s enthusiasm and bizarre delivery of most lines makes this song undoubtedly hilarious.

The eleventh and final track, “If you are but a dream,” a cover of a song from 1942 by the same name, is incredibly grandiose in its presentation. The song is most closely associated with Frank Sinatra, as he recorded his version in 1944, and it’s incredibly hard to listen to Greep’s version and not hear the influence. The swelling horns and thick bass pair well with Greep’s dramatic vocals. It’s a phenomenal closer to the album and a perfect contrast with the rest of the material that’s usually loud, fast and off-kilter.

“The New Sound” is a step forward for Greep and will definitely put any Black Midi fan’s anxiety about the band members’ futures at ease.