On their third album, Motion To Rejoin, back-to-nature somnambulists Brightblack Morning Light have honed their already tight, dark, soulful atmospherics. Somehow even more subtly layered than 2006′s self-titled astral-projecting slumber party, it feels like the songs were birthed whole, not cobbled together by Brightblack main-minds Naybob Shineywater and Rachael Hughes with warm vintage keyboads, slide guitar and guitar fuzz, Southwestern instrumentation, a pile of percussion, and a choir of voices. We’ve already posted “Hologram Buffalo,” its crystals, tepees, and trippy feathers. In the context of those sort of sleepy, soulful epics (most Motion tracks are over five minutes, a couple stretch almost to 10) the fuzzy, gospel-tinged “Oppression Each” stands out as the album’s 3-minute swamp song. Adding another texture to the collection, it also has a more distorted feel than the others — like the transmission’s breaking up temporarily.
It’s sort of a lullaby fight song: On the album, it’s followed by “Another Reclaimation.” (You can hear 30-second streaming clips at the Matador store.) When you consider the album’s after-midnight feel, it’s ironic to note it was recorded entirely with solar power in their adobe.
Motion to Rejoin is out 9/23 on Matador. After that, they’re on the self-described “Crystal Totem Turr.”
10/01 – Olympia, WA @ Eagles Hall Ballroom *
10/02 – Seattle, WA @ The Tractor Tavern *
10/03 – Tacoma, WA @ The Helm Gallery *
10/05 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge *
10/08 – Eugene, OR @ Sam Bonds Garage
10/10 – Arcata, CA @ Humboldt Brews *
10/11 – Davis, CA @ Delta of Venus *
10/14 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord *
10/15 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord *
10/16 – Berkeley, CA @ Starry Plough *
10/18 – Brookdale, CA @ Historic Brookdale Lodge
10/20 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
10/21 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar
11/05 – Denton, TX @ Hailey’s
11/06 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
11/07 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
11/08 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
11/12 – Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle Tavern
11/13 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
11/14 – Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head
11/16 – New Haven, CT @ BAR Nightclub
11/17 – New York, NY @ LPR
11/18 – Brooklyn, NY @ South Paw
11/20 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
11/21 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
11/22 – Chicago, IL @ Hideout
11/24 – Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
* w/ Avocet
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god this band is dreary and boring and shouldn’t be getting more attention, on matador? constantly slow tempos, hushed vocals, and reverb all the time? not stellar songwriting, c’mon! at least spiritualized mixes it up some, grrr it’s a monday
jeez buddy…. lighten up and bliss out for a second. these folks are pure beauty and true light! close your eyes and ride the vibe; hold the hand of the one you love and turn off the hold steady for a minute! i’m sure your significant other will appreciate it. there are few bands the world needs right now more than brightblack.
pretentious. its all about the look and less about the music. nice packaging, shitty tunes
Yeah wow, what’s more pretentious than living an ecologically responsible lifestyle? What assholes they must be.
i listen to beach house for the bliss, a much better vibe
i don’t have time for these hippy dippy poseurs, damn do some sports fer a sec and put down the bong already!
wait, haven’t they only released 1 album?
Yeah, they’ve only released 1 album, so this would be their second.
Via their website
BBML’s 2nd release will be on MATADOR RECORDS worldwide: 9/9/2008
I think Brandon was (rightfully!) including the album Ala.Cali.Tucky, which they released in 2004 as “Brightblack”. Motion to Rejoin will “technically” be the second album under the name Brightblack Morning Light, but really their third full-length overall. Ala.Cali.Tucky is quite wonderful, by the way, and should be sought out…
This is all creepy and whispery. I love it.
This song is good enough and I find their tree hugger antics endearing.
agreed. they may not have a whole lot of range, (their first album sounded like one long song), but in the right mood it’s perfect. Like previously stated by jt, close your eyes and ride the vibe.
these guys are not posers. i’ve met them, and, well, they’re hardcore hippies, man. they started out doing eco-activist work up in arcata, CA and later moved to the coast of northern CA where they proceeded to live outside, or somtimes in a teepee, and have in-depth conversations with owls…posers my ass…
yeah well sure one trick pony, if you like that sort of thing – ride it then
and that owl must’ve been like ‘stop bothering me you smelly losers, leave me the fuck alone to do my shit!” woot woot
….and beach house is NOT a one trick pony how? in fact, fuck that: they just rented the pony mazzy star put into retirement in 1997 so that they wouldn’t have to teach a new pony a damn thing.
i’m sorry beach house, i didn’t mean it. your music is very pretty, too. it’s my favorite music to fall asleep to. gimme just got me all riled up.
A George Michael demo done on Nyquil? File under cover art backlash…
relax kiddo
yeahhhh to me bh’s pony has a more refined, original, and beautiful sheen
bml’s coat is dull and ragged and reeks of patchouli, touche!
Great record. Feel sorry for those that don’t understand what they’re listening to.
Let’s remember these guys were living in tents for political reasons & no one really does that & also opens for Os Mutantes for their Bay Area debut, at the Fillmore.
The mentioned Lps are nice, but they play out live around here alot & it’s always different & interesting. They host rural music festivals with Joanna Newsom & Ramblin Jack Elloitt… of which I paid to go & see. I would guess they can’t afford to record often if they live in tents. I remember buying organic bread from the female keyboard player at the Berkeley Farmer’s Market many times… her Alabama accent was a mellow give-away!