Blackfield - Blackfield

by Benjamin Howarth

published: 25 / 1 / 2005

Label: Snapper Music
Format: CD

Laboured and uninspring epic rock from new duo Blackfield, which comprises of Steven Blackfield, lead singer of Porcupine Tree, and Aviv, an Israeli artist and peace protester

Review

Blackfield formed after a meeting between Steven Blackfield, lead singer of Porcupine Tree, and Aviv, an Israeli artist who has courted controversy in his homeland as a peace protester. Initially they planned to record a one off EP, but as the results pleased them so much, they decided to try and make it a full album. After an extensive recording process, they arrived at this ten-track album. This album shows obvious talent, with Aviv clearly being an accomplished instrumentalist and Steven possessing a strong, dextrous voice. But each track feels far too laboured, and as each song is blustered over by waves of keyboards and studio effects, the listener feels clustered. There are some good melodies here, but the band’s self-conscious attempts to make classic rock mean that the songs slowly die. Perhaps, if you’re a fan of epic stadium rock, this album would blow you away, but I have to be honest and say that I got no enjoyment from it. At one point I thought they were Linkin Park. Not nice…

Track Listing:-

1 Open Mind
2 Blackfield
3 Glow
4 Scars
5 Lullaby
6 Pain
7 Summer
8 Cloudy Now
9 The Hole In Me
10 Hello
11 Perfect World
12 Where Is My Love?
13 Cloudy Now (Live)
14 Blackfield