Feel The Change
Aviv Geffen has always embraced change and Blackfield, his art rock project with Steven Wilson, is evolving. As the pair celebrate 20 years of friendship, Geffen reveals the motivation behind sixth album For The Music and tells Prog why he’ll never give up his dream of peace.
Words: Rich Wilson Images: Moshe Nachumovich
Aviv Geffen: still doing it for the music.
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here are times in every musician’s career where they take a shot at breaking through into the mainstream. Blackfield’s music – a harmonious combination of the potent talents of Steven Wilson and Aviv Geffen – has always teetered on the cusp of commercial acceptance. With the latest album For The Music having the benefit of major label backing, an articulate sound and keen production, there’s a very real chance that Blackfield could finally transcend the confines of the progressive pop genre box and drop into the consciousness of your Average Joe. And it’s something that Geffen is acutely aware of.
“Parlophone came to me and said that they truly believe in Blackfield,” he reveals from his Tel Aviv home. “They have Coldplay, Blur and Bowie on their label, so for me it was a very moving thing. There are some good signs. I’ve just heard that the second single, Under My Skin, was playlisted on Virgin Radio. That’s something that we’ve never had before. Although the album is very mainstream and poppy it still has the same nostalgic, signature sound of Blackfield. To be honest, if someone misses the old Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree, you can only get that now on Blackfield, as he’s moved on to the electro thing. I think it’s good and we should judge the songs and not the genres. I sent over the new Blackfield tracks to Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno and they really liked it. They’re prog people and maybe the King of Prog in Peter Gabriel. If he likes it, then I guess we’re doing fine.”