Blackfield - Blackfield IV - a review

Artist: Blackfield
Album title: IVFormat: Vinyl
Label: KSCOPE Number: KSCOPEPE830Studios: Air Studios, Zaza Studios, Angel Studios, Musikbox Studios, Ofer Meiri’s Studio, Pluto Studios and No Man’s LandCover Art: Carl GloverProduced and Written by Aviv GeffenMixed by Steven Wilson

http://www.kscopemusic.com/blackfield/iv/

Side 1:

• ·      Pills
• ·      Springtime
• ·      X-Ray
• ·      Sense of Insanity
• ·      Firefly
• ·      The Only Fool is Me

Side 2:

• ·      Jupiter
• ·      Kissed by the Devil
• ·      Lost Souls
• ·      Faking
• ·      After the Rain

There was a time, back in the 70’s, when I would burst in anticipation of every new release by one of my then favourite bands.  Typically, progressive rock bands such as Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Gentle Giant.  Each release would find me walking to our nearest record store and making the essential purchase; then rushing home to release the album from its shrink wrap and after smelling the packaging, placing side one onto my turntable and dropping the needle with great care.  As the first sounds emitted from the vinyl I would examine the album art and then read every inch of the sleeve notes then as the album played, every lyric.  It’s never been the same since the demise of the vinyl album and the excitement has waned with CD’s pathetic cover art and lyrics too small to read with the naked (and now no longer 20/20) eye.

During the past few years Vinyl has had a resurgence and many of todays releases have both a digital and a vinyl issue.  Then there are the reissues on 180-gram vinyl.  There are only a few bands that get me excited when a new release is offered for pre-order.  I could probably count them on one hand and anything from the Steven Wilson camp tempts me to make that ever so excited pre-order purchase.

Of Steven Wilson's releases whether they are solo, Porcupine Tree or Blackfield it is the Blackfield albums that really rock my boat.  I have them all on 180-gram vinyl but the new release, Blackfield IV, now takes the number one slot on my turntable.

A single vinyl album, Blackfield IV is not overlong to fill a CD to its gills but a the 11 songs span a mere 31 m 42s.  To produce an album of this size is both brave but also means the artist really has to decide the best works.  Avid Geffen really does this well.   Each side of the album is a delight with memorable tunes and wonderful orchestration topped by a superlative stereo mix by Steven Wilson.

Previous Blackfield albums have been mainly Avid Geffen and Steven Wilson providing most of the songs, vocals and instrumentation.  Backfield IV is a different beast altogether.  8 tracks have Aviv on lead vocal with guest vocalists Vincent Cavanagh (Anathema) on “X-Ray”, Brett Anderson (Suede) on “Firefly” and Jonathan Donahue (Mercury Rev) on “The Only Fool is Me”.  Steven

Wilson takes lead vocal on only three tracks and backing vocals on 4 tracks.

Side 1 kicks off the album with a great classic Blackfield song “Pills”.  This track could so easily have come straight off this albums predecessor  “Welcome to my DNA”.  In fact this seems to be one of the tracks which has more Wilson input than the others.  This track was released months before the album was released and was a really good teaser.  Geffen’s nervous warbling vocal is beautifully supported by Wilson’s harmony.  Unfortunately what follows does not stand up to the quality of this song.

“Springtime” is another track that adopts the classic Blackfield sound although is filled with some lush Wilson backing vocals and strings and horns from the London Session orchestra.  A nice touch but makes the sound more mainstream.  Is that a good thing?  No, not for me.

Vince Cavanagh of Anathema takes the lead vocal next for “X-Ray”.  I love the brothers Vincent and Daniel Cavanagh’s vocals.  “X-Ray” simply sounds like an Anathema track, the only problem being that it ends so quickly.  With Anathema we are used to long prog tracks, but here we get a sweet lush song lasting a mere 2mins 36 secs.  It’s a great track but could have been developed with a shared Geffen vocal.   It just doesn’t develop.  Perhaps Vincent had to leave for a gig!

“Sense of Insanity” is classic Geffen.  A song about war in Geffen’s homeland.   If Geffen wants a hit single then he should release this one.  It’s a soft ballad with tones of U2 and Coldplay.  I could imagine this being a crowd pleaser at a stadium gig (which unfortunately Geffen won’t achieve).  The fade out is a rousing chorus of oh-oh-oh and guitar reminiscent of Chris Martin and a Jonny Buckland guitar riff.  Is Geffen showing he can do mainstream or is this a Coldplay copy?

“Firefly” delivers another guest vocal but this time it’s from Brett Anderson from Suede.  This track is one of the albums stand-out tracks.  It’s a pacey track that could be a real hit for Anderson if released as a single.  When Geffen penned this I wonder what made him decide on Anderson vocal?  It certainly fits.  This is a really outstanding track and I have played it over and over again.  It’s the albums hit single.

Side 1 ends with another guest vocal, this time from Jonathan Donohue of Mercury Rev.  “The Only Fool is Me” is backed by a Harp and strings from the London Session Orchestra.  Again it is too short a track and sounds like filler from a Mercury Rev album and wouldn’t sound out of place in a London Musical.

Side 2 opens with “Jupiter”.  A string laden pop tune with Wilson taking lead vocal and a wonderful simple drum pattern reminiscent of late Beatles and Tears for fears circa “Sowing the Seeds of love” period.  It’s a great pop tune that instantly makes you think you’ve heard it before.  

Next up jumps straight into “Kissed by the Devil”.  A love song, where Geffen is missing a girlfriend now gone (or is he alluding to missing Wilson writing for this album?).  This ends with a fade with Wilson singing “When She Goes away”.  A classic tail off vocal that takes me back to those wonderful Beatles fades heard from “Rubber Soul” onwards.

“Lost Souls” then gets going with a great simple chord riff from Wilson.  Both Geffen and Wilson share the main vocal (Geffen in front with Wilson thickening up the vocals with a double track of his voice).  It’s a song that chugs along but doesn’t really go anywhere and would have benefitted from a Wilson inspired soaring guitar solo.  In fact this album needs more Wilson guitar.

With side 2 almost over we get into “Faking”.  A song that is much more Blackfield-esque.  A pumping beat that could out “Snow Patrol”: “Snow Patrol”!

Tagged onto the end we get a solo piece by Geffen: After the Rain”.  Great electronic syncopated drums and lush keyboards with a very simple lyric.  A great ending but leaving this listener wanting for so much more.

Steven Wilson said this was not the sort of music “where he is right now”.  Not surprising really as Wilson's epic solo album “The Raven That Refused to Sing” is a real group effort with string musicians and haunting themes.  With Wilson leaving this album to Geffen it suffers and has lost any hard edge that Wilson might have bought to the table.  I can imagine Wilson being bored by it.  To me it’s a beautiful album with some good commercial songs that lack development and ay notion of a hard edge.  Think Brett Anderson solo without Suede.  Great stuff but lacking the Suede edge.

Would I recommend it? Of course I love Blackfield, but for me Geffen is not being pushed here and I imagine wants to break into mainstream pop/rock to earn the success he clearly deserves.  If you were to take off Wilsons input this would be an album that would disappear without trace.  Geffen has the support of some successful friends but it won’t make him a star.  If these are the 11 strongest tracks from a pool of 30 then god only knows what the other 19 are like.

On a more positive note I cannot fault the packaging.  A great sleeve with classic Blackfield imagery and a wonderful 180 gram vinyl which is silent and has the expected vinyl warmth.  The mix is classic pop, which I don’t feel Wilson spent too much time on (he is so busy he probably doesn’t have too much time).

Jon’s verdict: 3 out of 5 stars – more effort required!

Photo shoot out with Nokia Lumia 920 and Galaxy S3 and JB 4.1.2

I thought I would do a photo comparison between the Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone and the Galaxy S3 with the new Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 with its new tools including several camera improvements.

These photos were taken at the same time to avoid any changes in light impacting either phone.

First off I took an outside shot in a very contrasty area - namely beached over cast sky and a fairly dark part of our garden.  The results are as below.  Although not as saturated I think the Samsung wins it:

Samsung S3 - "Low Light" setting in unlit barn

Nokia Lumia auto low light so no specific settings in unlit barn

Nokia Lumia Macro setting

Samsung S3 Close Up setting

Samsung S3 no special settings all auto

Nokia Lumia Auto settings

Another month with the Nokia Lumia 920

Living with my Nokia Lumia 920 - another few weeks

This is MY Nokia - what's yours like?

Well here we are, another few weeks over the Christmas period using my Nokia Lumia Windows 8 phone in anger.  I will start with some immediate gripes:

1. It's a large slippery beast and trying to take photos one-handed is almost impossible.  I have to use both hands - resolution find a gel case!
2. MP3's transferred from my PC, whilst fine volume on the PC and other devices (iPhone, Android) the sound level stinks on the Nokia.  I can barely hear the tracks.  If I pump up the volume to full and use the nasty headphones from the phone box it's then audible.
3. I cannot play M4a (all my CD's are ripped in iTunes as Apple Lossless and so using the Windows Phone APP on the Mac transfers the songs to the phone but they are then unplayable producing an error message "unable to play" when selected.  This is almost enough to stop me using the phone - Microsoft get wider media format support quick!
4. Apps: I am an avid user of Instagram and it simply isn't available yet on Windows 8.  I also need Flipbook, also not yet available!
5. The Lumia camera button is so low down on the phone (bottom right hand side) that using one hand I keep dropping the phone.  It's so heavy!
6. The camera lens position on the Nokia is way too low.  I keep taking pictures with my finger over the lens.  I guess it's set for landscape mode but hopeless for quick snaps.

So, many gripes but I still love this phone.  I am still enamoured with the exciting Windows Phone 8 interface and it's slick feel.  It responds well and I haven't got bored with it like i have with the static iPhone iOS interface.  The live tiles are great and when I am in a 4G area its blazingly fast (I have managed to get 4G in Bristol and London so far.   Let's list the positives:

1. Windows 8 - amazing exciting interface, fast and the live tiles are genius.
2. The Me tile is very useful showing all my interactions on Facebook, Twitter and email.  I love that.
3. Calendar - the best calendar interface and beats iOS calendar hands down.  It even supports private setting and is just more logical to use than others I have experienced on Android and iPhone.
4. Camera - the camera on the Nokia is outstanding.  Glorious scene settings and I especially like the close-up mode which gives an amazing short DOF.  The additional lenses are also great especially the cinematograph lens setting which allows a moving area when all around is static.  The panorama mode lens setting is also great and for me better than the iOS panorama mode.
5. Battery life is good for me so far as long as I manage a charge each night.  However, I need to test in an area of 4G for a whole day to see what that does to the battery life. 

So, a few gripes more than likes BUT I still like the phone.  I am thinking I would have preferred the new HTC Windows Phone 8X.  I have held it and it's lighter and thinner than the Nokia.  I'd like to take it for a test drive - any offers?

Picture taken with the Nokia Lumia 920 on a dull afternoon - great clarity

The least we can do is wave to each other on Vinyl

The least we can do is wave to each other by Van der Graaf Generator.  

An amazing copy of this great 1969 album from 4 Men with Beards pressed on 180gm vinyl.  The album was originally released on 1970 and was VDGG second album.  Recorded at Trident Studios London between 11-14 December on 8-track and produced by John Anthony and engineered by Rob Cable.  After the Flood was one of the first tracks to be recorded on Trident Studios state of the art 16-track.  A great sounding album (as all Trident Studios productions were) with an immense clarity of sound and solid drum feel.  This remastered version from the original masters is warm, clear and has great stereo separation.  

The least we can do is wave to each other - front cover

A great front cover depicting the group floating on the sea (no doubt referring to the final track-After the Flood).  The albums title was taken from artist John Minton: "We're all awash in a sea of blood, and the least we can do is wave to each other".

This album contains three of the bands classic songs, and all on side 1: Darkness, refugees and White Hammer.  My favourite VDGG track still today is Refugees.  Refugees starts with a flute played by David Jackson, and wonderful Cello (written by Hugh) piece played by Mike Hurwitz.   Nic Potter's bass kicks in followed by some classic Guy Evans drumming and Hugh Banton Hammond Organ.  This great 4 men with beards vinyl release outshines the latest CD remaster in its warmth and the clarity of Peter Hammill's vocals.

The least we can do is wave to each other inside sleeve

When you look back at this time in music.  Progressive Rock (as it was later dubbed) was really emerging and from London with Yes at Advision, VDGG at Trident and of course Genesis also at Trident.  It was a great period for music which still reigns supreme today.  Dark, warm and very British, Prog Rock from middle class kids.    VDGG would go on to release H to He Who am the Only One the following year but remained fairly underground and not reaching the the dizzy heights of Genesis and Yes.  VDGG remain a cult but very loyal following today.  This recording cements how brilliant this band were, and remain so to this day.

Thanks to "4 Men with Beards" see http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2012/03/four_men_with_beards_label_sam.php for releasing these great albums on quality vinyl.

Living with the NOKIA Lumia 920

So I've had the 920 now for three weeks. An amazing device with a great camera and great fun to use. The Windows 8 Mobile is amazingly fast and intuitive to use. I bought this on EE contract yet where I live has no 4G. However when in Bristol or London the 4G kicks in and is simply the best mobile experience I have ever had. Super fast downloads and youtube streaming. Not quite the zero lag i was told I'd experience but nonetheless, very fast. I have tethered my laptop to the phone wirelessly and it works like a dream often beating the speed of an hotels free broadband. Using the camera especially in cinematographic mode is awesome. Superb clear shots which are vibrant and clear. Downloading the add in lenses i am able to get a cinematographic mode lens which animates parts of a still photo. And a great panoramic lens. the Nokias Macro mode is equally excellent producing high detailed shots and narrow depth of field. Although a great phone i do have some major gripes which will hopefully go away once new apps are released. There is no Instagram and loading music by itunes simply fails to work. The format is incompatible! For most other apps i have managed to get alternatives ir the apps themselves such as YouTube. Email is a sinch but an all mailboxes option would help. So all in all a great device which could be even better with the release of the missing apps. Oh and btw, the edit text ibar doesn't work its too quirky! And as for the spell checker its er not quite there yet.

Another dull day in the Somerset countryside (so boring) and so what to do?  Well, go to the Purple Whale and grab an album.  Deck it play it and sit back with a coffee enjoying the warm sound of Vinyl.  Getting my #vinylrush as I call it.
So, the album this morning is Steven Wilson's Grace for Drowning.  His second solo outing and what an outing it is.  It's a concept album over 4 sides of 180gsm vinyl one of 40 minutes the other 45 minutes long.  This album has the most amazing soundscapes and some exquisite musicianship.  Listen to the amazing guitar solo on "Deform to Form a Star".   DTFAS is about well, what is it about? Here's some lyrics:

Crawl into your arms

Become the night forever

Coiled and close, the moment froze

Deform to form a star

Here on earth together

I got time to share and a well used stare 

My favourite track is "Postcard" Steven Wilson writing a postcard to someone or maybe a suicide letter?  Great arrangement of Strings choral synths (arrangements by Dave Stewart who has also arranged strings and orchestra on Falling Deeper by Anathema and Storm Corrosion), and piano blend to make this an awesome song.  Just read these lyrics:

I'd like to light a cigarette but I cannot

The lighter's dead and the gas has been cut off

What does this album sound like?  Think Porcupine Tree, Blackfield but then cut across that and add in a touch of Opeth at their darkest.  For me it's a follow on from the wonderful Porcupine Tree "The Incident" album.  Darkness, death, paranoia, loneliness - are you getting it?  Outstanding jazz-feel drumming on "Remainder the Black Dog" by Nic France and amazing Bass from Nick Beggs (yes Kajagoogoo), both of whom toured this album recently. If you mix this together with fab arrangements and a near perfect production, you have Grace for Drowning.  Go buy it now you won't be at all disappointed.

Memories of Machines - Warm Winter

Memories of Machines - Warm Winter is simply the best album of 2011 period.  M of M is a collaboration between No-Man singer Tim Bowness and Nosound multi-instrumentalist Giancarlo Erra.  

The album also features: 

• Steven Wilson – guitars & keyboards on "Lucky You, Lucky Me", additional recording & engineering, mixing
• Gabriele Savini - acoustic guitar on "Change Me Once Again"
• Jim Matheos - guitar atmospherics on "Something in Our Lives"
• Robert Fripp - guitar Soundscapes on "Lost and Found in the Digital World"
• Michael Bearpark – volume-swell guitar on "Schoolyard Ghosts"
• Peter Hammill – guitars on "At the Centre Of It All"
• Alessandro Luci - bass guitar on "Before We Fall", "Warm Winter" & "Change Me Once Again"
• Peter Chilvers – bass guitar on "Schoolyard Ghosts"
• Colin Edwin – double bass on "At the Centre Of It All"
• Paolo Martelacci - keyboards on "Before We Fall" & "Change Me Once Again"
• Stephen Bennett – electric piano & synthesizer solo on "Schoolyard Ghosts", additional recording & engineering
• Huxflux Nettermalm - drums on "Before We Fall" & "Warm Winter"
• Gigi Zito - drums on "Change Me Once Again"
• Andrew Booker - drums on "Schoolyard Ghosts"
• Aleksei Saks - trumpet on "Lost and Found in the Digital World"
• Myke Clifford - saxophone on "Schoolyard Ghosts"
• Marianne de Chastelaine - cello on "Beautiful Songs You Should Know" & "At the Centre Of It All"
• Julianne Regan - backing vocals on "Before We Fall" & "Change Me Once Again"

All the tracks are great but outstanding is "Before the Fall" with a superb guitar shrill throughout and impeccable lyrics followed by "Beautiful Songs you Should Know" with it's simple acoustic arrangement, simple organ chords and cello: perfect.

If you buy no other album in 2012 go and buy this one - and I recommend the vinyl (you get a digital download as well but the vinyl mix is supreme.

--
thanks

Jon Pickles