Black Carrot

Black Carrot

Black Carrot are a quintet from Market Harborough who begin in 2000 and remain active. Their music combines new-wave krautrock and jazz elements with rock, and their sound draws on the work of Captain Beefheart and Pere Ubu while also using influences from New York jazz skronk and loose, funky krautrock. The group’s approach is described as fierce and abstract, but still focused on the structure and idea of the song.

Formation and line-up

The original line-up consists of Oliver Betts on woodwinds, keys and vocals, Stewart Brackley on vocals and electric/double bass, and Tom Betts on drums. In 2006, Euan Rodger joins on percussion and live samples, adding a more percussive and experimental layer. Olly Warren later adds fuzzed guitar scratch, broadening the group’s sound further.

Recordings and recognition

Black Carrot release their first album, Cluk, in 2003 on their own Moon City Musik label. The record receives strong reviews and leads to a feature on BBC Radio 3’s Mixing It. Their second studio album, Drink The Black Forest, appears on Tin Angel Records.