The Or­chestra (For Now)

Nowhere else in the world has impacted the contemporary rock music scene in recent years quite like The Windmill in south London. From black midi, Squid or Shame to Black Country and New Road, this grassroots venue is where classic band setups are disassembled and steered in unexpected directions. The Orchestra (For Now) might be considered the most interesting new project on this scene, treading the delicate line between nostalgia and futurism. With their EP double ‘Plan 75’ and ‘Plan 76’ (2025), the seven-piece ensemble has pretty effortlessly designed, produced and perfected a wildly atmospheric mix of art rock and chamber music, 70s prog and post-hardcore, indie and conceptual work. Rave reviews have abounded ever since, from BBC 6 to Quietus and Clash Music – and rightly so. The compositional drama of the tracks, the complexity of the arrangements alongside their charming catchiness are unparalleled in the current UK music scene. The Orchestra (For Now) have achieved what cultural pessimists across the country scarcely deem possible these days: writing human, contradictory, imperfect, moving music with rough edges, all done without  a trace of artificial interference. For now, at least.