Brightblack Morning Light - Motion to Rejoin (Matador) Keith Boyd 10.2.08
This treasure trove collection comes on like some lost testament of the Narcotic Gospel. Deep in the grooves of Wurlitzer, reverb and hush-hush vocals is a new way forward. BBML are stoned on wind and water. They weave and wend these songs together with a furious restraint that sucks your head in like a sunny day. This being their second full release one might expect them to cash in on the modicum of success they garnered from their last self-titled opus but no. If anything they retreat a step and find glory in the smallest of sounds. These fragile yet mighty songs speak to the heart and head. They are a call to all brothers and sisters to find solace in each others eyes and arms. In these ultra-ultra connected and minutia examining times it’s utterly refreshing to spend time with these lower case mystics. Their music is a gossamer thin wisp that twirls and dangles on the edge of your consciousness like a feather on the wind. But like so many meditative states, when you give it your full attention the minimal glaze gives way to reveal its fullness. There are worlds within these tracks. Desert plants sigh in the choruses and the stars overhead transversing the sky give an audible whoosh. I hear roots and skins and stones and all manner of wisdom giving life finding expression on this album.

Although it is broken up into actual songs the strength of this album is that is comes across as a holistic and unified statement. Doses of gospel choir bubble up through a hazy tonic of Dub, Soul and Mantra. The instrument palette is rather sparse and primarily relies on organ, some synth washes and harmonized vocals. It is tranquil without being sweet. It is expansive yet vaguely ominous. From the titles to the tone the whole album comes out sharply on the side of the oppressed, the small and the hidden niches in the landscape. Brightblack Morning Light has delivered a subtle yet powerful piece of art here. It’s equal parts fantasy and stark realism. There is space within these songs to dream and imagine. There is ample sonic landscape to wander in search of Magick. Do yourself a favor, choose the Red Pill and move forward with them into the Desert of the Real.