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Rating: Discussing Steven Wilson (as with his Porcupine Tree, for that matter) is always difficult. He belongs to the category of artists who, depending on various sensibilities, are hailed as Geniuses or accused of being merely good plagiarists.
Personally, I lean more towards the former assumption, although not everything in his production excites me. I admit that the clichés of certain Prog are very present in his works.
Blackfield is one of his side projects initiated together with his Israeli fan, multi-instrumentalist Aviv Geffen, and I’ll say this right away: if you're looking for Prog, look elsewhere. In fact, this second project from the super band delves even deeper into the sounds currently in vogue on the global scene, with ample Emocore references and sophisticated Pop citations.
I know it seems cliché to say, but despite these premises, thanks to Wilson's undeniable sound elegance, these dangerous influences are not to say they aren't felt (quite the opposite), but they appear so clear and free from compromises (as if he himself no longer has to justify his connection to more cultured music), that the listener can immerse in an almost sinless world, where Pop and all other mainstream references are just a pretext to tell stories of melancholy and purification.
It is indeed the feelings and emotions that drive all the songs: from the initial "Once" and "1,000 People" with heavy Emo references, to the more ordinary (yet elegant in their fragile Pop structure) "Miss You", "Christenings" and "This Killer", which lead straight into the second part of the work. Here, the Prog origins of the co-author (let's not forget the songs were co-written) are more evident, and where from the darkness of previous calmness, one can hear those “guitar walls” that we so much enjoy once again, exemplified by the exciting "Epidemic", perhaps the best episode, and the concluding "End of The World".
Just over forty minutes of music that explore, with simplicity and minimal stylistic structures, themes of emotions and attempt to reproduce them with good results. Certainly, one might also cry out for an overdose of syrup listening to, for example, "Where is my Love?", but in my opinion, it’s a venial sin (let's not be ashamed to fall into sentimentality now and then, even if we're big, burly, and bearded!).
It's needless to say that supporters of the more technical Wilson may be disappointed and, conversely, detractors may push even more towards an idea of an irretrievably citationist author. In my opinion, the truth lies, as usual, in the middle. The product is very enjoyable and for those willing to leave behind unnecessary preconceptions, it provides emotions too.
To be approached only with an open mind.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Once (04:03)
Want you to know
That I could go anytime
I want you to know
Gave me her lips
Gave me her perfect hips
And I slow down
I slow down in love
Once I rise inside
Once she would hold me
She was my only
Only true love
Once she had told me
That I'm holy
Only so long
She'll stay all night
She'll be so quiet
And she won't laugh at my jokes
Once I rise inside
Once she would hold me
She was my only
Only true love
Once she had told me
That I'm holy
Only so long
04 Christenings (04:37)
I met you in a record store.
You had slept in the clothes you wore.
But I knew I'd seen you somewhere before.
What happened to your guitar?
And what happened to the prettiest star?
Can you still play the songs that got you so far?
Hey you with your shadow in the gutter,
how low have you got to go before you're through?
High times and vodka in the mornings,
all your memories are coming out of your shoes.
Black dog sitting in the park,
odd looks from the mothers of the devil's own.
Shoplifting, getting your essentials.
Gatecrashing christenings and funerals,
and weddings too.
I used to see you all the time on MTV.
Read your life story in a magazine.
I guess you thought that's the way it would always be.
But I believe in you.
'Cause I think that you want me to.
Though I never really liked your songs, it's true.
05 This Killer (04:06)
Don't leave the door ajar
Don't walk away
Don't leave me in the dark
You think you know me well
It makes me laugh
'Cause I don't know myself
This killer on the run
He steals from me a song
He'll catch me off my guard
He likes me when I'm down
And when I'm sad
Fallen man
Fallen man
It's always me alone
That hears the noise
Cause it's my inner voice
So stay inside your hole
We'll hide away
Before I lose control
This killer on the run
He steals from me a song
He'll catch me off my guard
He likes me when I'm down
And when I'm sad
Fallen man
Fallen man
This killer on the run
He steals from me a song
And I can say I know him well
And so can he, because it's me
He is me
He is me
06 Epidemic (04:59)
Don't say everything's okay
Don't tell me that it's just a phase
It doesn't help me
All the stars are standing still
The anger and the sleeping pills
Are all that's left now
An epidemic in my heart
Takes hold and slowly poisons me
Her will won't let me breathe
It comes in waves and bleeds me dry
This love is slowly killing me
For me, there's no-one else
Jealousy just eats me up
Your knife has made the deepest cut
My heart is popping
You say that there must be an end
But afterwards we'll still be friends
It seemed so easy
An epidemic in my heart
Takes hold and slowly poisons me
Her will won't let me breathe
It comes in waves and bleeds me dry
This love is slowly killing me
For me, there's noone else
07 My Gift of Silence (04:05)
If I compiled all my crimes and my lies into amnesty
Would you come back to me?
The smile on my lips is a sign that I don't hear you leaving me
And I don't hear my own soul scream
I'll read your lips, watch your scarf play at your hips
And I know it's true
But I don't hear him call to you
Don't blame yourself
Don't change yourself
I just wanna be over you, see, if you'll love
Don't hate yourself
If I compiled all my crimes and my lies into amnesty
Would you come back to me?
The smile on my lips is a sign that I don't hear you leaving me
And I don't hear my own soul scream
Don't blame yourself
(don't blame yourself)
Don't change yourself
(don't change yourself)
I just wanna be over you, see, if you'll love
(don't hate yourself)
Don't hate yourself
09 Where Is My Love? (02:59)
Endless fields of emptiness in my dark and wounded heart
Where is my love?
The freezing moment when you turned your head and waved goodbye
Where is my love?
Even all the biggest storms can't take my pain away
Where is my love?
Noisy happy people crossing streets from side to side
Where is my love?
I gave you everything I could but you want the stars
Where is my love?
Endless fields of emptiness in my dark and wounded heart
Where is my love?
Even all the biggest storms can't take my pain away
Where is my love?
Noisy happy people crossing streets from side to side
Where is my love?
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