Blackfield - Blackfield Live In New York City [Album]

K Scope

October 12, 2009, 07:08 PM

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Before we go any further I have to tell you that we are dealing here with a band who actually rhyme 'high' with 'sky' in one of their songs. Still reading? Well, okay then. B lackfield are primarily Stephen Wilson and Aviv Geffen, who happen to be two of the most complete charisma voids I've ever had to listen to.

Seriously, this is like two of the least interesting people you could imagine learning musical instruments (proficiently, it has to be said) and then singing their twelve year old brother's English Literature homework over the top. Searingly clichéd and guileless it makes you squirm in your seat as you try and take your mind off the lyrics and focus on the music. Problem is, the tunes are lifeless and bland too so there isn't much in the way of respite there.

Opener 'Once' isn't actually that bad with a long tribal drum style intro and a decent guitar hook but Blackfield look like they know it's a highlight and pull it out again for the encore. Bonkers.

You know who's going to like this? People who still hold a candle for Savage Garden and dread-locked, female, Italian sociology students. Everyone else is going to listen to something like 'The Hole In Me' or 'Pain' (sample lyric: 'While I'm melting in rain / deep in pain / she is so far) and hope to God the music industry finds some way of imploding in on itself even faster than it already is.

There are two very good things about this album but neither one has anything to do with song writing. Firstly, the recording is excellent. They have managed to maintain a live sound but the clarity on display is still quite brilliant. Second is the packaging. Thick card bindings house the audio CD and DVD with a nice little booklet in the middle with some glossy pictures to wonder over. Like, I wonder how this lot ever got a gig at the Bowery? Arf.

The DVD is a nice touch, by the way. I'll be frank, I couldn't put myself through watching the whole thing but there are the usual kind of bonus bits on it and if (for the love of God!) you are a fan of Blackfield then you've been well looked after here.

It gives me as little pleasure slating a band this hard as it does in listening to them in the first place but there you have it; Blackfield make dull insipid music and this is a live recording of that.

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