Blackfield – Blackfield (2004)
A Stunning Debut from a Trans‑Continental Art‑Rock Collaboration
Blackfield is the self‑titled debut album from Blackfield, the art‑rock project formed by Israeli singer‑songwriter Aviv Geffen and British musician Steven Wilson (best known as the founder of Porcupine Tree). Released in 2004, this record blends melancholic songwriting with lush pop‑rock sensibilities — a meeting of creative minds that resulted in one of the most intriguing debuts of the early 2000s.
Recorded between 2001 and 2003, Blackfield showcases short, emotionally rich songs with tight arrangements and polished production, designed to bridge classic pop songwriting with atmospheric rock textures.
Album Overview
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Artist: Blackfield
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Album: Blackfield
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Release Date: January/February 2004 (varies by region)
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Labels: Snapper Music, Helicon, Kscope
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Producers: Steven Wilson & Aviv Geffen
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Genres: Art Rock / Alternative Rock / Pop‑Rock
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Length: ~37:57 (standard edition)
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Reissues: A 2004 re‑release added a three‑track bonus disc; later pressings bundled bonus tracks with the main album.
This debut transformed a planned EP into a full‑length work that introduced a new sound for both contributors — Wilson’s melodic rock intricacy and Geffen’s introspective pop sensibility.
Tracklist – Standard Edition (2004)
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Open Mind – 4:11
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Blackfield – 4:21
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Glow – 3:28
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Scars – 3:02
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Lullaby – 3:01
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Pain – 4:30
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Summer – 3:27
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Cloudy Now – 3:15
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The Hole in Me – 2:51
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Hello – 4:22
Bonus Disc / Expanded Editions: Some versions include extra tracks like “Perfect World” and an LP‑exclusive version of Porcupine Tree’s “Feel So Low.”
Album Credits
Blackfield Core Members
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Aviv Geffen – vocals, keyboards, guitar
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Steven Wilson – vocals, guitar, keyboards
Supporting Musicians
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Daniel Salomon – piano, keyboards, backing vocals (“Cloudy Now [live]”)
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Seffy Efrati – bass
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Chris Maitland – drums, percussion on multiple tracks, backing vocals on live versions
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Gavin Harrison – drums on “Open Mind,” “Pain,” and “Perfect World”
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Yirmi Kaplan – drums on “Glow” and “Summer”
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The Mistakes – instrumentation on “Scars”
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Illusion Quartet – strings on “Open Mind,” “Lullaby,” “Summer,” and “Hello”
Production
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Steven Wilson – producer, mixer
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Aviv Geffen – producer
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Chris Blair – mastering
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Lasse Hoile – photography
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Carl Glover – graphic design
Singles
From this album, four singles were released, helping introduce Blackfield’s melancholic but catchy sound to a wider audience:
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“Hello”
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“Pain”
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“Blackfield” (title track)
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“Cloudy Now” (English version of Geffen’s earlier Hebrew song)
Fun Facts
🎸 Cultural Fusion: Blackfield blends UK alternative rock and Israeli pop‑rock through the unique partnership of Wilson and Geffen — a rare cross‑cultural collaboration in modern rock.
🎶 Cover Origins: “Cloudy Now” and “Scars” are English re‑recordings of songs Geffen originally wrote and performed in Hebrew in the 1990s and 2000.
🎻 String Arrangements: Several tracks feature lush string sections performed by the Illusion Quartet, adding orchestral texture to the album’s melancholic soundscapes.
🔥 Bonus Rarity: Some vinyl editions include a Porcupine Tree cover (“Feel So Low”) with Hebrew vocals — a collectible item among fans.
Trivia
🎤 Creative Origins: Blackfield began as a planned EP that expanded into a full album as Wilson and Geffen’s chemistry grew during recording sessions between Tel Aviv and England.
🎧 Dual Vocals: Both Wilson and Geffen share lead vocal duties across the album, giving it varied emotional tones.
📀 Early Live Spark: Blackfield debuted live on Israeli TV in early 2004, helping build anticipation before European touring later that year.
Did You Know?
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Blackfield was released in 2004 in Europe and Israel and reached the United States in 2005, where it gained a strong cult following among art‑rock and prog fans.
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The band was formed after Geffen opened for Porcupine Tree in Israel in 2000, leading to a friendship and eventual long‑term musical partnership.
Goofs & Misconceptions
❌ Not Blackfield’s Only Sound: Some listeners assume the group’s later albums sound like this debut — in fact, subsequent records shift toward more Aviv‑centered songwriting and different instrumentation.
❌ Not Just a Steven Wilson Side Project: Although Wilson is well known for Porcupine Tree, Blackfield was conceived as a full collaborative effort, not merely his side gig.
❌ Not Mainstream Rock: While catchy, the album’s art‑rock and melancholic style is deliberately distinct from mainstream pop‑rock of its era.
Here’s a comprehensive article on the band Blackfield, covering bio, band members, discography, commercial performance, top tracks, fun facts, and trivia — a full guide to one of art‑rock’s most intriguing collaborations:
Blackfield: An Artistic Rock Collaboration
Blackfield is a multinational art‑rock and alternative rock project formed in the early 2000s as a deep artistic partnership between English prog‑rock figure Steven Wilson (best known as the founder of Porcupine Tree) and Israeli rock star Aviv Geffen.
The collaboration began from mutual admiration — Geffen was a fan of Wilson’s work, and in 2000 invited Porcupine Tree to play in Israel. A creative friendship grew that eventually became the Blackfield project.
Blackfield’s sound blends atmospheric art rock, melancholic pop, alternative and prog influences — often centered on emotional lyrics, lush melodies, and concise, song‑focused arrangements rather than extended jams.
Band Members (Past & Present)
Founders / Key Members
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Aviv Geffen – vocals, guitars, keyboards (co‑founder)
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Steven Wilson – vocals, guitars, keyboards (co‑founder)
Current Contributors (live/recording)
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Tomer Z – drums & percussion
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Eran Mitelman – keyboards/piano
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Omri Agmon – guitars
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Hadar Green – bass
Past Members
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Chris Maitland – drums (early era/first album)
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Gavin Harrison – drums (Porcupine Tree member who played on early material)
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Daniel Salomon – keyboards (early)
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Seffy Efrati – bass (earlier lineups)
Discography (Studio Albums)
Blackfield’s recorded legacy includes both core studio albums and compilations:
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Blackfield (2004) – debut album that introduced their emotive art‑rock sound.
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Blackfield II (2007) – recorded in Tel Aviv and London with expanded sonic palette.
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Welcome to My DNA (2011) – marked a shift with Geffen taking greater songwriting lead.
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Blackfield IV (2013) – further refined their melancholic pop‑rock textures.
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Blackfield V (2017) – featured contributions from Alan Parsons and a mix of rock and introspection.
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For the Music (2020) – the sixth studio effort with Geffen in central creative role.
Notable compilations:
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Open Mind: The Best Of Blackfield (2018) — gathers essential tracks from the band’s career.
Chart Performance & Commercial Notes
Blackfield is more an artistic cult favorite than a mainstream chart giant. Their later albums did chart in Europe — for example Welcome to My DNA, Blackfield IV, and Blackfield V reached positions in national charts such as Finland, Netherlands and Switzerland, and even the UK charts — though none were blockbuster top 10 commercial successes.
Top Tracks & Fan Favorites
Blackfield’s songs are hallmarked by emotional resonance, melody, and lyrical introspection. Among their most beloved tracks are (by popularity and recognition):
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“Blackfield” – the powerful title track from their first album.
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“Open Mind” – anthemic and evocative rock.
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“Pain” – haunting ballad that showcases their emotional depth.
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“Hello” – catchy and poignant single.
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“Cloudy Now” – English adaptation of a Geffen original.
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“Family Man” – a standout from Blackfield V.
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“From 44 to 48” – contemplative mid‑tempo favorite.
Fun Facts & Trivia
🎵 Cross‑Cultural Roots: Blackfield blends British prog/alternative influences from Wilson with Geffen’s Israeli rock/pop background — a rare fusion in modern rock.
🎤 Translations: Some early songs, like Cloudy Now and Scars, are English versions of Aviv Geffen’s earlier Hebrew originals.
🎸 Prog to Pop Focus: Unlike Wilson’s work with Porcupine Tree, Blackfield emphasizes concise, three‑minute songcraft with emotional hooks over long prog epics — a deliberate artistic direction noted by Wilson.
📀 Collaborations: The band’s fifth album involved legendary producer Alan Parsons, contributing to its layered production.
🎶 Live Legacy: Their global tours — from Europe to Israel and beyond — cemented a dedicated fanbase, with live DVD and audio releases capturing performances like Live in New York City.