Brightblack Morning Light: Motion to Rejoin

Label: Matador

I’m not sure there’s any record in recent memory that falls under the category of “grower” more than Brightblack Morning Light’s self-titled album from two years ago. At first, I found the record slow, self-indulgent, aimless and dull. After many months of being forced to listen to the record because of one employee who insisted on playing it every day, I slowly fell in love it. Now we have the long-awaited follow-up from this group led by Rachael Hughes and Nathan Shiney, and it’s another brilliant fusion of blues, psych, folk, soul and dub, and if that sounds implausible, give a listen. The sound is familiar, but there are some changes this round. Backup female singers give some of the tracks a soulful edge, and the slide guitar is more prevalent this time, giving the album a mid-70s Pink Floyd-like edge. Yeah, you’re gonna hear lots of cliches about drugs and this kind of music, and for sure, it’s not to everybody’s taste (but what is, when you think about it?), but I urge you all to give this band a try, because this is a sound all their own, and it’s beguiling and captivating sound.