Black Bordello’s latest single, “Nunhead,” juxtaposes life’s absurdities and inevitable decay. This track, taken from their upcoming album White Bardo, shows the essence of the band’s signature macabre lyricism while detouring through the realms of the metaphysical. Named after Nunhead Cemetery, a historical burial ground in Southeast London where Sienna Bordello’s family rests, the song is a chilling yet strangely joyful reflection on leisure and loss. Perfect for a spooky season!
Written during the pandemic, “Nunhead” was inspired by Sienna’s strange encounters at the cemetery, where parents casually sipped Prosecco as children played with toys left on graves—a scene that struck a discordant note in her mind. Her frustration with this bizarre spectacle escalated to the point where local papers framed her as a “hysterical mentalist” after she aired her grievances online. Despite the backlash, the incident birthed a fruitful collaboration with the local council, allowing her to film a music video at the cemetery, centring on themes of gentrification. It’s this deft blend of irony and fatalism that defines “Nunhead”—a cocktail of gallows humour swirled with a potent dose of existential pondering.
Musically, the track is deceptively upbeat, built on a jaunty melody that initially masks the darker undercurrents of Sienna’s lyrics. It’s an odd contrast—like dancing on a sinking ship—but that’s where Black Bordello shines. The infectious rhythm paired with Sienna’s seething lyricism creates a fascinating tension, as she critiques the surreal nature of life and death in a tone that’s both cheeky and unflinching. Her voice navigates this complex emotional terrain with ease, offering sardonic observations with a bite that echoes post-punk greats like Siouxsie Sioux, but with a modern twist.
Though “Nunhead” taps into themes of mortality and existentialism, it’s far from a bleak affair. The track, like much of White Bardo, is imbued with a sense of stubborn joy as if Sienna and her bandmates are dancing on the edge of the abyss with grins on their faces. This energy elevates the song beyond a mere meditation on death; it’s a celebration of the strange, unpredictable dance that life and death perform together.
For fans of Black Bordello, “Nunhead” is a prime example of the band’s evolution. They’re not content with just exploring earthly matters—there’s a new hunger for something beyond, a desire to unravel the mysteries of existence. With White Bardo on the horizon, Black Bordello’s fascination with the metaphysical promises to take their sound to even more intriguing places, and if “Nunhead” is any indication, we’re in for a wild, introspective ride.