Bright Black Morning Light - Bright Black Morning Light

 Matador Records is pleased to herald the signing of one of America's most unique new bands, Northern California (via Alabama)'s  Brightblack, the duo of Nabob (aka Nathan Shineywater) and Rachael Hughes (Rabob).

First emerging in 2002 with a Palace Records split 7" with Bonnie Prince Billy under the name Rainywood, Brightblack's 2004 LP 'Ala.Cali.Tucky' was recorded with Paul Oldham in Kentucky.

the following biographical spiel is culled from the Brightblack website:

"Nathan D. "Nabob" Shineywater was raised rurally in Alabama by two older men who became known in the community for enhancement of the spiritual side of life. The eldest chose to be a rural preacher, who sang gospels. The other man chose to distribute a refined white powdered South American plant to anyone interested, in hopes to enhance the "party spirit" side of life.

"Between these two men, Nabob spent his weekdays singing along to Steely Dan. The weekends however were spent with the aging community of peanut farmers in church, singing highly spiritual gospel. "Their voices were very diverse. All of them old, except mine. Some were missing teeth, adding percussion to the 'SSS' in S words. All the men and women sang with both sadness and joy, depending on their day, and they sang as prayer. Singing in that way is the only way to sing! It wasn't Sacred Harp singing, it was straight ahead gospel that lent itself to the most common of people."

"His best friend and music partner Rachael "Rabob" Hughes was also raised rurally, in Montevallo, Alabama. The downtown area has a wonderful wooded park of cedar trees, some of them carved as huge faces. Within the town's park Rachael's father built an ornate waterfall. The piano in their home was frequented by Southern Gospel as well. This is the crux of her playing style, which is solely released on vintage Rhodes pianos.

"Rural Northern California is where the two pitch tents in the warm months, and live communally in a small old cabin in the colder months.

"Brightblack Morninglight in recent live settings have included newest member Elias Reitz' complementory woven thunder of bells, tabla and other chiff-chaff-clap-boom percussions. Other members include Noah Wilson who has long been patterning his own drumkit beats with the shadows of invisible dew drops he found while photographing fields in Humboldt County, California.

"After 18 months of writing songs and playing & touring with bands like Bonnie Prince Billy, White Magic, Women & Children, Papa M, Joanna Newsome, Vetiver, Entrance, Gojogo, Daniel Higgs' Magic Alphabet, Lungfish, and recently making their UK debut at the Slint-curated All Tomorrow's Parties, Brightblack will commence recording their Matador debut later this Spring."

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