(RockAndMetal.com) (08/03/04)

By Michael Bennett

LONDON, UK - Snapper Music has confirmed September 14th as the U.S. release date for the self-titled debut album from BLACKFIELD.

Featuring musician/producer Steven Wilson from No-Man/Porcupine Tree and Israeli singer/songwriter Aviv Geffen, "Blackfield"'s stateside release will follow an already-growing buzz over the band's European release, which is set for August 23rd.

A near two-year creative endeavor, "Blackfield" was recorded at various studios in both London and Tel Aviv, with final tracking at London's Abbey Road studios in October of 2003.

Featuring haunting material written both collaboratively and separately, the album brings together a unique ensemble of music, culture and exceptional talent.

An incredible video for the album's title single was filmed on location in London and Copenhagen, and was directed by Lasse Hoile, long-time designer for Porcupine Tree who also takes credit for Blackfield's haunting artwork.

Drawn together by a mutual love for classic rock albums of the '60s and '70s, Steven Wilson and Aviv Geffen have long admired each other's collective works.

In 2000, Geffen invited Wilson to perform alongside him for several concerts in Israel.

They met again shortly thereafter in London and before long began collaboration on the very first Blackfield song.

Steven Wilson, a multi-instrumentalist who taught himself both guitar and keyboards while still a teenager, is an accomplished and highly respected musician.

Starting with the Art Rock trio No-Man, Wilson developed the initial foundation of the Porcupine Tree legacy in 1987.

"On The Sunday Of Life," Porcupine Tree's debut full-length album, was released in 1992, which was followed by their UK live debut in late 1993.

US fans would have to wait several more years to catch Porcupine Tree on stage, when a short U.S. run culminated in a sold out performance at New York's prestigious Bottom Line.

"In Absentia," the band's 2002 recording, was their first for Lava/Atlantic, and Porcupine Tree's best selling album to date, with sales of over 100,000.

The band's next album is scheduled for worldwide release in early 2005.

In addition to performing with Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson is an accomplished producer.

His most notable works include the last three recordings from Sweden's Opeth ("Blackwater Park," "Deliverance," "Damnation") and a recent mix of Marillion's 'Angelina' on that band's new UK single, 'Don't Hurt Yourself.'

The son of esteemed Israeli poet Yehonatan Geffen and nephew of Moshe Dayan, Aviv Geffen is one of Israel's most outspoken counter-culture rock musicians.

A highly successful solo artist with a string of gold albums in his native country, he is respected by David Bowie, Nick Cave, and Roger Waters, among others, and has found U.S. media coverage within the pages of Newsweek, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times.

It was at a peace rally in Tel Aviv on November 4, 1995 that the then 22-year-old Geffen performed his popular ballad 'I Cry for You' in front of over 300,000 people.

While congratulating Geffen, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was fatally shot.

That shocking event was a turning point for Aviv Geffen, whose already prolific and often controversial works have inspired the generational youth of his homeland.

For Geffen, Blackfield is his first English-language recording project.

The "Blackfield" album also features guest musicians Gavin Harrison and Chris Maitland (current and former Porcupine Tree drummers), Yermi Kaplan, and The Illusion String Quartet.

"Blackfield" Album Track Listing:

1. Open Mind
2. Blackfield
3. Glow
4. Scars
5. Lullaby
6. Pain
7. Summer
8. Cloudy Now
9. The Hole In Me
10. Hello

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