Box Codax

{{Short description|Scottish experimental rock band}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Box Codax

| image = Box-codax-on-tour.jpg

| caption = Box Codax on tour in Spain in 2007

| landscape = Yes

| origin = Glasgow, Scotland

| genre = Experimental

| years_active = 2003–present

| label = Gomma

| website = {{URL|boxcodax.com}}

| current_members = * Nick McCarthy

• Manuela Gernedel
• Alex Ragnew

| past_members =

}}

Box Codax is a band from Glasgow, Scotland. It is made up of Nick McCarthy (formerly of the indie rock band Franz Ferdinand), Manuela Gernedel, and Alexander Ragnew.

{{cite web |last=Pike |first=Karl |url=http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/reviews/music/box-codax-only-an-orchard-away-$449536.htm |title=Box Codax: Only An Orchard Away |publisher=www.inthenews.co.uk |date=4 April 2010 |accessdate=6 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330005508/http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/reviews/music/box-codax-only-an-orchard-away-%24449536.htm |archivedate=30 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}

The band's first album, Only An Orchard Away (2006), has been described as a collection of songs, often romantic and whimsical nostalgia, at other times scrappy and punky. It is an honest and genuine collection of witty pidgin English lyricism, dark humour and the award-winning song writing of a pop genius presented out of context in these lo-fi recordings.{{cite web |url=http://vinylunderbite.blogspot.com/2010/04/box-codax-only-orchard-away-thin-man.html |title= Album Review: Box Codax – 'Only an Orchard Away' (Thin Man) |publisher=vinylunderbite.blogspot.com |date= 4 April 2010 |accessdate=6 January 2012}}

In their second studio album, Hellabuster, which was released on 10 May 2011, the band recounts the peculiar and young life of Hellabuster in 13 episodes, with each song being accompanied by its own video. The music on Hellabuster moves between skewed disco, post punk and glam prog,{{cite web

|last=MacKay |first=Emily |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/box-codax/12045 |title=Album Review: Box Codax – 'Hellabuster' |work=NME |publisher=IPC Media |date=11 May 2011 |accessdate=2 January 2012}}

and includes contributions and performances of Joseph Mount (Metronomy), Pabs Debussy (Paul Thomson), Karsten Hochapfel and many more.{{cite web |url=http://www.gomma.de/2010/09/20/new-box-codax-album-out-early-2011 |title=New Box Codax Album out early 2011! |publisher=gomma.de |date=20 September 2010 |accessdate=6 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418223422/http://www.gomma.de/2010/09/20/new-box-codax-album-out-early-2011/ |archive-date=18 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}

The videos for the songs, which were directed by UK artists (including the Turner Prize laureate Martin Creed), contributed to the eccentric album's critical acclaim. All videos episodes of Hellabuster are freely available on http://www.hellabuster.com .

Box Codax songs have been remixed by Metronomy, Naum Gabo aka Optimo, Rodion, Mock & Toof, Telonius, Den Haan and The KDMS.