Current band members are drummer Tomer Z, bassist Seffy Efrati, and keyboardist Eran Mitelman. Former band members include Chris Maitland (replaced by Tomer Z, 2004) and Daniel Salomon (replaced by Eran Mitelman, 2007).
Collaborative era:
Formed after a meeting in 2000, the partnership blossomed into a cross-cultural collaboration called Blackfield.
Aviv had discovered Porcupine Tree in the mid โ90s and followed their career development. In 2000 he invited the band to perform some concerts in Israel and met with Steven in London to discuss working together. Before long they had collaborated on the first Blackfield song. In 2001 the two met in a studio in Tel Aviv with the intention of recording a one-off EP.
The results of the session were so impressive however, that the EP was cancelled and the decision was made to continue writing and recording a full length album. Over the next 18 months the pair fitted in Blackfield writing and recording sessions whenever they could between their other commitments and finally in October 2003 the debut album was complete.
The collaborative songs alongside songs written by each separately brought a unique meeting of cultures, which resulted in the self titled album, which was hailed at the time as 'hypnotically effective' (Classic Rock) and โanother strike of genius from Steven Wilsonโ (Eclipsed).
Blackfield II arrived in February 2007. The pairโs return was greeted by an equally enthusiastic media response with Clash describing it as โa lush but soulful mix of separate cultures, deep sounds and touching lyrics,โ and CMU proclaiming it as โsimply another complete triumph from the duo.โ
Geffen-led era:
In January 2009, to promote his first English-language European release, Geffen went on a small tour of Europe with the Blackfield live band, including Wilson being billed as a special guest. Half of the set consisted of songs from the then yet to be released first English language solo album by Geffen while the rest was a selection of Blackfield songs. Wilson would also appear on three tracks from the album.
In April 2010, Geffen and Wilson got into studio to begin writing the follow-up to Blackfield II. However, this time, all songs, with the exception of the track "Waving", were written by Geffen, as Wilson had been concentrating on his second solo album, Grace for Drowning, at the same time. Wilson only performed lead vocals on five of the eleven tracks, but provide backing or co-vocals on several other tracks. Their third album, Welcome to my DNA, was released on the 28th of March 2011 and supported by a European and North American tour following a kickoff concert in Israel. However, several concert dates were cancelled due to the death of Wilson's father in May 2011.
After touring for Welcome to my DNA was completed, Wilson confirmed that with Blackfield, like the majority of his other projects, he himself had no particular plans for the future, but the project wasn't necessarily over either. However, in January 2012, Geffen has announced his intentions to release a fourth Blackfield album by May 2012. This prompted Wilson to announce that his role would continue to lessen, with Wilson acting only as a contributor and mixer. Wilson said of the band's future:
"[โฆ] just to clarify news elsewhere of a new Blackfield album coming this year โ please note that this time my involvement will be as a contributor rather than a member. I will still be mixing the album, and maybe sing on a couple of Avivโs songs (there will be other guest singers I understand), but with my complete blessing Blackfield is now under his sole curatorship, a process which really began with Welcome to My DNA."
Wilson later admitted that it was his own idea for Geffen to take over the project, because Wilson wanted to concentrate on his solo career and Porcupine Tree in 2012 and 2013, while Geffen wanted to do another Blackfield album right away in 2012, and Wilson felt guilty about holding him back.
On January 29 and January 30, both Geffen and Wilson were in the studio working on vocals and guitar for the fourth album. Wilson stated that he will contribute lead vocals to only one song, but is also contributing "a bunch of guitar parts" and "arranging backing vocals". Despite his lessened role, he still said that he was "protective of the Blackfield legacy", and that the next album would "still sound like a quintessential Blackfield album." One of the guest vocalists that Wilson had alluded to before, was revealed to be Vincent Cavanagh of the band Anathema, who recorded vocals for a track.
On June 14, 2012, Geffen announced he was in the final mixing stages of the album with Wilson.
In a September 2012 interview with Discord Magazine, Wilson reiterated his stance with Blackfield, stating:
"I wonโt say producing [the fourth album], I am only helping [Geffen], a bit of singing, guitar, mixing whatever it takes but I am not going to tour, itโll be too much, Iโll kill myself, would just run myself to the ground. I wonโt tour Blackfield anymore but I will do anything to keep the name goingโฆI just donโt think that writing the kind of style that Blackfield make is where I am at right now."
At the end of November 2012, Geffen stated that he roughly aims for an April 2013 release time frame. Wilson confirmed that he sang and played guitar on several tracks, but "much less than before", that Geffen was able to get "a bunch of great singers to contribute to the record, some of whom are quite well known", and that the album would be the first that Geffen would consent to be mixed for surround sound.
On February 25, 2013, Wilson released his third solo album, The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories), of which some copies contained a compilation sampler disc of music done by artists under record label Kscope; one track was a new track, "Pills", taken from the fourth Blackfield album.
On June 9, 2013, it was announced that the fourth album would officially be titled Blackfield IV, and its release date would be August 26, 2013.
Family Man
Blackfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breath out
You had your shot you blew it all
Right now
Dead end
Your rescue team is miles away
Breath in
You had your shot you blew it all
Right now
Dead end
Your rescue team is miles away
People talk behind your back
In idle news become a clown
For those you despise, those you never count
They cheered you while you crashed
Chasing your dreams
Paying your bills
Here you go again
Definite sign
You are around
No, it's not a shame to be a family man
To be a family man
Stand still
Slow down
You had your shot you blew it all
Right now
Dead end
Your rescue team is miles away
Hard boy
Blank heart
How shallow can you get?
Stand still
Slow down
Where else can you go?
Chasing your dreams
Paying your bills
Here you go again
Definite sign
You are around
No, it's not a shame to be a family man
To be a family man
Family man
Family man
Family man
Family man
To be a family man
The lyrics to Blackfield's song "Family Man" describe the feeling of regret and hopelessness from someone who had a chance to succeed and blew it all. The repetition of "Breath in, breath out" emphasizes the notion of taking deep breaths to calm oneself down from the situation at hand. The second line "You had your shot, you blew it all" highlights a sense of disappointment and frustration. The line "Your rescue team is miles away" suggests that there is no one around to help or support the person in his or her time of need.
The second verse seems to be directed at people who have talked behind this person's back, becoming a target for ridicule and contempt. The line "They cheered you while you crashed" portrays the idea of Schadenfreude - taking pleasure in someone else's misfortune. However, the chorus softens the tone: "No, it's not a shame to be a family man" emphasizes the importance of putting family first and the idea that responsibility and purpose can be found through familial ties.
Overall, the song's melancholic vibe and contemplative lyrics reflect on the importance of finding fulfillment through more significant things than just material success.
Line by Line Meaning
Breath in
Take a deep breath
Breath out
Exhale slowly
You had your shot you blew it all
You had your chance and messed it up
Right now
At this moment
Dead end
No way out
Your rescue team is miles away
No one is available to help you out of this situation
People talk behind your back
Others speak negatively about you when you're not there
In idle news become a clown
Gossip turns you into a fool
For those you despise, those you never count
People you dislike and ignore
They cheered you while you crashed
People were happy to see you fail
Chasing your dreams
Pursuing your aspirations
Paying your bills
Meeting financial obligations
Here you go again
Starting over, repeating the cycle
Definite sign
Clear indication
You are around
You are present
No, it's not a shame to be a family man
It's not embarrassing to prioritize your family above other things
Stand still
Stop moving
Slow down
Take it easy
Hard boy
Tough guy
Blank heart
Lacking emotions or empathy
How shallow can you get?
How lacking in depth can you be?
Where else can you go?
What other options do you have?
Family man
Individual who places family above everything else
Family man
Individual who places family above everything else
Family man
Individual who places family above everything else
Family man
Individual who places family above everything else
To be a family man
To prioritize family above other things in life
Lyrics ยฉ Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: AVIV GEFFEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maria Diaz
Breath in
Breath out
You had your shot you blew it all
Right now
Dead end
Your rescue team is miles away
People talk behind your back
In idle news become a clown
For those you despise, those you never count
They cheered you while you crashed
Chasing your dreams
Paying your bills
Here you go again
Definite sign
You are around
No itโs not a shame to be a family man
Stand still
Slow down
You had your shot you blew it all
Right now
Dead end
Your rescue team is miles away
Hard boy
Blank heart
How shallow can you get?
Stand still
Slow down
Where else can you go?
Chasing your dreams
Paying your bills
Here you go again
Definite sign
You are around
No itโs not a shame to be a family man
Carlos Fernandes
After a horrible 2020, we need a new Blackfield album.
Sean Flaharty
Wow! Incredible sounding. Can't wait for this one!!
Laurence Ellis
This is how to cross the bridge between progressive rock and popular music, put simply, backfield is the missing link... I can't remember the last band that completely satisfied me with every CD release, this one was well worth waiting for... ๐๐๐
O Fiscal
Maravilhoso
A. Yฤฑldฤฑz
Oh my God. They're back with such a great material... I love this new powerful sound of Blackfield.
Everett Patterson
Looking forward to the whole album. Sounds great!
Salazar Antonio
Brutal, fantรกstico. โค
Mao Kido
I have so many years listening to all the albums from Blackfield, and this song have like something really important to me. I have no idea if is this part of the lyrics: "Paying your bills. Here you go again" maybe is not the most " new sound" (stills sounds fucking incredible to me haha) or the most innovative song, but I can feel really vivid how Aviv and Steven were enjoying playing or making this song. Is so great!
Finlay Macdougall
Excellent! ๐ค
Pancham K
Beautiful โค
I don't know why people were slamming this album, coz Aviv Geffen has more presence than Steven...
That accusation is baseless ๐
The whole album is amazing !! (but certain lyrics are too sad and heavy for my taste)