Band:	Blackfield
Album:	Blackfield II
Style:	Pop rock, Progressive rock
Release date:	February 13, 2007
A review by:	Dream Taster

01. Once
02. 1,000 People
03. Miss U
04. Christenings
05. This Killer
06. Epidemic
07. My Gift Of Silence
08. Some Day
09. Where Is My Love?
10. End Of The World

Sticking a "II" after your band name and releasing that as your follow up to your eponymous album doesn't show a great deal of creativity or invention. Don't be fooled though, as Blackfield is showcasing a lot of that through their music. You only need to know that Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree fame is behind most of the music. Israel-based Blackfield is a self-defined art pop rock combo specializing in atmospheric pop tunes and catchy soft melodic rock songs.

It isn't your average Metal fest but fans of Porcupine Tree and the likes will surely find something compelling about these songs especially if you already heard their debut. This brings us to comparisons between the two albums. First off, Steven Wilson seems to have taken more responsibilities within the band while his counterpart Aviv Geffen is still contributing enough to keep this a full-blown collaborative effort. Secondly, the more-pronounced inclusion of string instruments on some tracks makes them differently whole. Mostly, the seemingly effortless aptitude to create very catchy tunes remains the key element to Blackfield's music.

There is a certain melancholy to the whole arrangement of songs that can only grow on listeners through repeated listens. While their first album was maybe more rounded-up, this one has the better stand-out tracks. "Miss U" is their best ballad; "Epidemic" is their best atmospheric number; and in my opinion "My Gift of Silence" happens to be their best song. Blackfield II is a gem of atmospheric melodic rock perfect for peaceful evenings and rainy days. If you're looking for quality quiet music to chill out, this would be it.