10 Best Progressive Rock Albums Of The 2000s
6. Blackfield - Blackfield II
Steve Wilson strikes again with another key contribution to noughties prog, this time with Israeli rock icon Aviv Geffen in tow.
As one might've already guessed, 'Blackfield II' is indeed the second Blackfield effort. For Geffen, it's a compelling showcase of his interest in the experimental rock sounds of gloomy groups like Radiohead and Portishead. For Wilson, it's another testimony to his immense skill as both producer and artist.
Opening on the lust-driven 'Once', the emotionally sensitive LP wanders through a variety of somber tracks and stylings. Geffen's keyboarding bounces off Wilson's guitars and Daniel Salomon's piano with subtle but effective chemistry.
Unlike so many of their prog contemporaries, Blackfield choose to avoid any grand scale concept storytelling or epic-length, multi-part tracks here. Instead, it's a surprisingly fast-paced affair with just one track breaching the five minute mark.
The decision to embrace a more minimalist approach to song construction pays off beautifully. It ensures the LP's a more emotionally nuanced affair with listeners taking in its overall vibe and feeling over getting lost in heady, complicated riffs and melodies.
Of their six albums to date, 'Blackfield II' remains the most punchy and straightforward.