Black Box Recorder

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For the recording device, see Black box (disambiguation).

Black Box Recorder are an English pop/indie group. They debuted in 1998 with England Made Me, a collection of lyrically sophisticated pop tunes. They 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.

Musically, the group is influenced by trip hop, ambient music, and French electronic groups such as Air. However the lyrics to these lush and romantic melodies are frequently bleak, ironic or sarcastic: obvious influences are Ray Davies, Morrissey, and Pulp. The video for single "The Art of Driving" depicted the band as crash test dummies, and one photo shoot from around that time portrayed them as survivors of a destructive car crash.

Black Box Recorder are Sarah Nixey, Luke Haines (of The Auteurs), and John Moore (formerly of The Jesus and Mary Chain, John Moore & the Expressway Rising, Revolution #9 & a solo artist). John Moore and Sarah Nixey married in 2001, and have one child. They divorced in 2006.

Though the band is not currently active, they have not officially split.

Preceded by several singles, the first solo album from Nixey, Sing, Memory, was released in February 2007.

Luke Haines toured the UK and Ireland during November 2006, with John Moore guesting on bowed-saw at some gigs.