Chokebore - Black Black

Black Black is Chokebore's fourth studio album, released in Europe on April 13th, 1998, by Boomba Rec, on CD only. It was recorded by Peter Deimel (assisted by Yann Madec) at Black Box studio in Noyant-la-Gravoyère (France) in February 1998, except for the track Where Is the Assassin?, recorded in Troy's living room (credited as "Chokeboresound studio").

Black Black is the first and only Chokebore album recorded with drummer Mike Featherson (credited as "Miik"), who had replaced Christian Omar Madrigal Izzo following his departure in 1997. However, the track Distress Signals features Christian on drums as it is an outtake from the A Taste for Bitters recording sessions.

The record's artwork was designed by Kevin Hanley, a long-time friend and collaborator of the band.

Fun fact: the name Black Black was inspired by a Japanese chewing gum brand.

The album spawned the double 7-inch single You Are the Sunshine of My Life / Valentine, and music videos for the songs You Are the Sunshine of My Life, The Perfect Date, and Where Is the Assassin?

Just like A Taste for Bitters, the CD edition of Black Black includes an extra track titled The Rest of Your Evening, only this time it is an actual song, a slow and peaceful tune played over and over for 15 minutes.

Unavailable in the USA for more than a year after its original release, Black Black was released stateside on both CD and LP formats on September 10th, 1999, by Punk in My Vitamins, a DIY record label operated by Unwound bassist Vern Rumsey. Since Boomba Rec closed down in 1998 and PNMV became inactive in 2002, Black Black remained out of print for years, until it was finally remastered and reissued on vinyl in December 2024 by Vicious Circle (classic black or limited pressing of 750 on transparent violet vinyl).

Releases

Apr 1998: CD – Boomba Rec [BOOMBA 008-2] – Europe
Sep 1999: LP/CD – Punk iN My Vitamins [PNMV22] – USA
Dec 2024: LP – Vicious Circle [REVERB166] – Europe

Tracklist

Speed of Sound
Never Feel Sorry Again
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Valentine
Every Move a Picture
Distress Signals
The Perfect Date
Sad Getting Sadder
Alaska
The Sweetness
Lives like Satellites
Where Is the Assassin?
The Rest of Your Evening (CD only)

Artwork

Credits

produced by: Chokebore and Peter Deimel
engineer: Peter Deimel
assistant engineer: Yann Madec
recorded at: Black Box studio, France (except "Where Is the Assassin?" recorded at chokeboresound studios, Los Angeles)
mastered at: Alcyon Musique, Paris
design/photography: Kevin Hanley
band photos (back): a frank g by Turpaud Baptiste, jonathan by jonathan, miik by brownie mud's dad, troy by Adeline & Esther
band photos (inside): a frank g by jon, jonathan by a machine, miik by Esther & Adeline, troy by bruno

all songs written and performed by Chokebore © 1998 chokeboresound
words by Troy

Personnel

a frank g - bass
jonathan - guitar
miik - drums
troy bruno balthazar - guitar/vocals
Christian Omar Madrigal Izzo - drums on "Distress Signals"

Review

This four-piece outfit crosses between indie pop and heart-on-the-sleeve emo. Their music drags you through the deepest ditches of their emotions, as they take you on their own little journey filled with distorted pop music aplenty.

Speed of Sound and You Are the Sunshine of My Life are two prime examples of what this band is all about. The vocals mumble and stagger through the words with a shy, nervous quality that brings the emotional feel to the forefront, while the sly, confident portion of the vocals push the song along with a breathy, drunk quality. The music is poppy and very indie rock, sometimes light and airy, and sometimes filled with plenty of distortion and muscles to push along quickly and make its move.

The Perfect Date is a rocker. The vocals are more confident and don't really slide around with the emotional touch. Instead, they move around with a powerful, moan-scream that gives the song a jagged edge. The Sweetness is a dreamy, quaint pop ditty that is all about getting inside your head and creating a sweet, surreal trip for you to travel.

Whether they're rocking or taking you on a pretty trip, Chokebore's mixture of emo-rock and indie pop helps the songs dive between bold and sweet, a lethal combination that will play with your mind and, in the end, most likely hook you.

Lyrics

Black Black lyrics

Buy Black Black online

Buy 12″ vinyl + mp3 on the Vicious Circle online store