Brightblack Morning Light
| Brightblack Morning Light | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Northern California, United States |
| Genres | Freak folk |
| Years active | 2005 - 2012 |
| Labels | Matador |
| Associated acts | Daniel Higgs,Vetiver,Devendra Banhart, Espers, Joanna Newsom,Slint |
| Website | http://www.thebrightblackmorninglight.com |
| Members | Rachael Hughes Nathan Shineywater |
Brightblack Morning Light is a band which formed in Northern California by Nathan Shineywater & pianist Rachael Hughes, both of whom are from Alabama. The band has been "linked to a spirit of folky 1960's revivalism," and they were called one of the leaders of the "freak folk" scene. Praised for their recordings, the band also organized a number of small folk festivals in Northern California.
The band eschewed commercial exposure, having chosen a relatively quiet and luxury-free life—they have lived in cars, tents, converted chicken-coops, and cabins, and have recorded music using solar power. They were described as "back-to-the-land idealists and activists" who are influenced by such writers and activists as Edward Abbey, Leonard Peltier, Henry David Thoreau, Allen Ginsberg, and Carlos Castaneda. Shineywater also cites Ram Dass, Rachel Grimes, and Hamza El Din.
In 2002, while called Brightblack, the band recorded an album named Ala.Cali.Tucky of songs they had performed while called Rainywood, on Galaxia Records. The album was well-received, and praised for its vocal harmonies.
The current band was founded in 2004. In 2005 BrightBlack Morning Light played at All Tomorrow's Parties, a music festival in England, at the invitation of the Kentucky band Slint. That same year the band signed with Matador Records and released their eponymous debut album, sold in Europe as well as America. In Belgium, the album received a positive review as well, in the weekly HUMO.The New York Times called it "extraordinary" and praised it for its "mesmerizing, hollowed-out grooves."
In 2008, Matador released BBML's Motion to Rejoin. The album was recorded in New Mexico, electricity for the recording sessions was generated by four solar power panels.Motion to Rejoin received attention in the United States as well as in Europe, "Top 5 Alternative Albums of 2008" UK GUARDIAN, with reviews and press coverage in Belgium and Germany. In the year of 2009 BBML headlined/toured extensively multiple times across the USA and Europe, including Transmusicales France & ATP curation by My Bloody Valentine. In 2012 the band had a digital release entitled "LIVE JOURNAL ONE Instrumentals (2006 & 2008)".
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