Blackfield - Welcome to my DNA
Posted by Nade on Tue, 19 Apr 2011.
Blackfield – Welcome to my DNA
Blackfield are the masters of writing songs that sound beautiful and melodic on the surface while hiding a twisted monster underneath. The third slice of the collaboration between Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson and Israeli musician Aviv Geffen, “Welcome to my DNA” is no exception to this rule, with each listen revealing another layer of depth and meaning to seemingly innocent lyrics.
Album opener, “Glass House” lulls us into a soft sense of security. The simple guitar melody accompanied by orchestral sounds sets the scene of mellow songs yet to come. Naturally, as the song ends and the next track plays, this is wrenched away and replaced with a taste of what is yet to come, in the form of “Go To Hell”. Which can be summed up in three words: simple and angry.
“Rising on the tide” and “Waving” carry the signature Blackfield sound, before making way for my personal favourite track.
“Dissolving with the night” combines scathing lyrics with orchestral parallels to the Beatles’ “Day in the life” to create a song that demands a repeat listen before continuing on.
The latter half of the album doesn’t carry as much weight. “Blood”, a mostly instrumental track breaks up the album by standing out as the “dark and heavy” track.
“Oxygen” is another song that demands a multiple listens before releasing you from its grasp with its mix of pop-like, upbeat music with doomsday-type lyrics.
Overall, “Welcome to my DNA” won’t prove disappointing for the Blackfield fans, although two or three listens are required to gain a true appreciation for the album.