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6 June 2006 Brightblack Morning Light (self titled), Matador 2006 There is nothing in this world sadder to me than overhearing somebody rag on the Grateful Dead. I'd be willing to bet that this intense hatred is probably only 30-40% based on the music itself; the other 2/3 of the reason being more of a subconscious revolt against ‘60s idealism and the hippie stereotype. And I'll be the first to admit it – Deadheads are easy to hate. They dress in ridiculous ways, use acid-fried accentuation, and are known to smell up a room with only the slightest increase in temperature. But people usually fail to realize that the reason the Grateful Dead are so wonderful has very little to do with the culture that surrounds them. It has much, much more to do with what can only be described as “good vibes”—a theory I admittedly stole from Geologist of Animal Collective. He and I both appreciate the Grateful Dead on an entirely intuitive level, devoid of ration. For me, the music is akin to some sort of aural Prozac; I enter some peaceful trance-like state the second I hear that joyous jam-bandery. Meet Brightblack Morning Light, described on their website as “a gathering of N. Shineywater, Rabinyah, Elias Reitz, Benbob, Lolly Schlitz-Fah, Mariee Sioux and other friends and herbs!” N. Shineywater, who by the way goes by Nabob (just say that aloud and you'll realize how crazy that is – NAY-BOB!), is the group's leader, and like much of the rest of the band hails from somewhere in Alabama. Members of the group met each other whilst homeless, they wear gigantic Blue-Blockers at night, and curate an annual festival in Big Sur called Quiet Quiet Ocean Spell. And the reason you should love Brightblack has absolutely nothing to do with all that – it's just “good vibes”. To comply with the parlance of our times, “good vibes” will henceforth be referred to as “aural Prozac,” or aP. Now if your brain is wired a certain way, you will be completely helpless against Brightblack Morning Light's aP, which is much different than the Grateful Dead's aP. Let's say for instance, you happen to enjoy slowcore bands from the mid 90s like Low and early Mojave 3. Or, maybe you fall prey to the woozy, country-tinged charms of bands like Mazzy Star and the Cowboy Junkies. Hell, even if you dig any of the music coming out of the current psych-folk boom (ie: Six Organs of Admittance, Wooden Wand, Vetiver), you're bound to have the perfect chemical imbalance for this musical antidepressant. Brightblack are a jam-band for the shoegazer crowd, letting a vintage organ and two percussionists lead the music through hazy slide guitar melodies and harmoniously comatose sighs. And, although the music is occasionally propelled upwards with a drum break or increase in rhythmic speed, things remain remarkably relaxed the whole way through. The record feels comfortable enough in it's own skin to be truly beautiful, letting light and melody in at all the perfect times. There's a lot to enjoy about this record, and I strongly recommend listeners to not allow the group's marketing schtick to obscure that. Yes, there are members named Nabob, Rabob and Benbob. But don't forget that San Luis Obispo's own Mariee Sioux is a member of the band as well, and they even just completed a tour together. Yes, Nabob looks JUST LIKE Mitch Hedberg, and talks with a warm country twang. But he's nonetheless authentic, and if he keeps making albums like this someday Nabob's gathering could produce an indie-rock Aoxomoxoa. -Erik Olson
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