BLACKFIELD: For The Music (POP): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

We were treated to a burst of pride from Blackfield in 2017 with their volume 'V', an inspired album that saw the return of Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) as songwriter and, above all, vocalist. He's back again on 'For The Music', writing three of the nine songs on this short album of just thirty minutes.

There's no revolution to be expected from the Geffen/Wilson duo, who are content to reproduce what they've done before. The majority of the tracks are pop, with the voices of the two protagonists in chorus or solo. As a lover of slow, melancholy tracks, Blackfield offer only three energetic ones, the very classic but successful 'For The Music', 'Under My Skin' with its childish chorus and 'Summer's Gone', handicapped by kitschy keyboards and a little too reminiscent of Coldplay.

The rest is a succession of numb tracks that don't particularly exude joy of life. The compositional process is always the same, with a few piano or guitar notes providing the melody, accompanied by listless vocals, discreet drums that sound like they've been programmed and layers of synths to make the whole thing even sadder/depressing. Few tracks manage to emerge from this doldrums, with the possible exception of 'Falling', typical of early Blackfield, or 'Over & Over', which sounds like it's been lifted straight from Steven Wilson's 'Hand Cannot Erase' album.

Too limp and lacking in hooks, the content of 'For The Music' will have a hard time convincing even the most hardened of fans. It's certainly not an unpleasant listen, but with the exception of one or two tracks, it doesn't leave an indelible impression. - Official website

BLACKFIELD

FOR THE MUSIC

WARNER

POP