NEW YORK (KOCH Records/ www.blackfield.org) - KOCH Records is thrilled to announce the release of Blackfield's eponymous debut CD - a gorgeously moody and musically complex singer-songwriter styled set - on February 22nd, 2005.
Drawn together by a mutual love for the classic rock albums of the 60's and 70's, Steven Wilson, front man for English progressive rock pioneers Porcupine Tree, and Israeli pop star Aviv Geffen created Blackfield.
Wilson's group Porcupine Tree is currently enjoying worldwide success with "In Absentia" (Lava/Atlantic), the veteran outfit's biggest selling album to date.
Aviv Geffen, son of esteemed Israeli poet Yehonatan Geffen and nephew of revered Israeli statesman Moshe Dayan, is regarded as his homeland's most outspoken counter-culture rock musician. Respected by musicians worldwide including David Bowie, Nick Cave and Roger Waters, Aviv was asked to join hipster Brit-Pop act Elbow on stage for this year's Glastonbury festival.
Over a string of gold albums, Geffen's lyrics have dared to criticize the military and question the civil rights afforded to those with no voice in Israeli society. As many of his fans took to spray painting his inflammatory lyrics across Tel Aviv, Geffen polarized his nation's opinion of him. Loved passionately by some, he is also hated venomously by others.
At a peace rally in Tel Aviv, Geffen performed his ballad, "I Cry for You," in front of over 300,000 people. After the show Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin congratulated Geffen backstage. Geffen became the last person ever to embrace Prime Minister Rabin, as only moments later, yards from where Geffen stood, Rabin was gunned down. From that moment onwards the then 22-year-old singer would become the national peace symbol for Israel's youth, and "I Cry For You" would become an unofficial national anthem.
After following each others' careers since the mid-nineties, Geffen invited Wilson to perform some concerts in Israel in 2000 and they decided to meet in London to discuss the idea. Something clicked and before long they collaborated on the very first Blackfield song.
In 2001, the two met in a studio in Tel Aviv with the intention of recording a one-off EP. However, after an extremely creative period of songwriting, the decision was made to continue writing and recording with the aim of completing a full-length LP.
Over the next 18 months the pair made time for Blackfield, writing and recording sessions whenever possible. In October 2003 the "Blackfield" album was complete, with songs written together and separately, bringing a unique meeting of cultures, which has resulted in a sophisticated, melodic rock album.
"Blackfield" will be released by KOCH Records on February 22nd.
