Artist: Blackfield
Label: Snapper Records
Released: 2004
Blackfield is a joint project between Porcupine Tree mastermind Steven Wilson (vocals, guitar) and Israeli pop rock star Aviv Geffen (vocals, guitar). When this record came out, Porcupine Tree fans were afraid that the same fate that befell Blackfield would eventually catch up with Porcupine Tree too. The songs are short, with polished hooks, and stick to the mold of 2x pre-chorus, 3x chorus and an instrumental middle section in between. So no sprawling, progressively exploratory epics like you’d expect from Porcupine Tree. The atmosphere is melancholic, dark, and, importantly, real, really real, which gives the record a special weight and individuality, and that always earns musical creations extra points.
The sound spectrum is lushly filled with massive Mellotron. The keyboard arrangements are phenomenally chosen, polished and put together, giving the impression that a proper little string orchestra is playing throughout the record. The tracks are mostly dreamy and mid-tempo, a blend of calm passages with moderately faster ones, where the lofty mood never lets up. Interestingly, the project brings together two lead vocalists, but they don’t create any particular contrast on the record, since the timbres of the two voices are quite similar. Still, all the arrangements fit together nicely, not to say ideally. Of course, the guys also turn to computer samples here and there, which tastefully spice up the whole situation. There are no guitar solos, but Blackfield string together simple guitar embellishments over the basic motif, which serve purely as decoration and to lift the mood in the songs.
There are a few Orientally tinged moments (Open Mind), then some properly dreamy mid-tempo tunes (Scars), or extremely melancholic variants (the sophisticated ballad Lullaby), while Pain (with Geffen on lead vocals) recalls She Moved On (Porcupine Tree, “Lightbulb Sun”, 2000) in its lyrics and structure. Then there’s also an acoustic stroll dressed up in “Beatlesisms” like Summer, or a combination of rock and Celtic folk motifs (The Hole In Me). The glissando guitar feints that are Wilson’s trademark are nowhere to be found, except in the chorus of the closing Hello. So the songs don’t escape the Porcupine Tree feel. First off, there’s the Mellotron and the vocal arrangements, and in places the way the songs are composed, which proves that Wilson had the biggest say in shaping the material. Blackfield are a softer breed of thing, keeping the atmosphere high and truly alive, developing a massive, full sound where distorted tones and adrenaline-fueled riff rushes find no place. Blackfield is music for melancholic souls. I wouldn’t recommend spinning “Blackfield” during moments of serious personal disappointment, because the immense sadness and pain trapped inside Blackfield could only strengthen potential suicidal tendencies at such a time. “Blackfield” is a mature rock album, completely special and different, carrying a special magic that’s worth all your attention.
Lineup
Aviv Geffen – vocals, guitar
Steven Wilson – vocals, guitar
Daniel Salomon – keyboards, vocals
Seffy Efrati – bass guitar
Chris Maitland – drums, vocals
Track list
1. Open Mind (3:50)
2. Blackfield (4:07)
3. Glow (4:00)
4. Scars (3:57)
5. Lullaby (3:29)
6. Pain (3:47)
7. Summer (4:12)
8. Cloudy Now (3:34)
9. The Hole In Me (2:47)
10. Hello (3:09)
Total Time: 36:52
