Promising selection from Fields debut.
After it seems like Fields have been a part of the indie landscape for an age they are finally releasing their debut album, although the actual release date remains unknown. With comparisons to the sumptuous My Bloody Valentine already under their belts, Fields career twinkles with promise.
With the rambling progression of many of the songs here it's easy for the listener to become absorbed by melodies so hypnotic you forget you were actually listening. All of the songs here follow a fragmented pattern, giving them an epic feel with subdued vocals throughout. Despite there only being five songs featured here they form a collective unit quickly and provide very little to differentiate between them. The only real difference comes in the form of 'Skulls and Flesh and More' due to the addition of prominent female backing vocals. This change restores concentration for the remaining song; the most recent single 'If You Fail, We All Fail'.
Fields deserve credit for bringing the shoegazing sound to the fore once more, and by doing so distinguish themselves from much of the current crop by embracing a sound not always easy to penetrate and not exactly radio-friendly or catchy. Ultimately my only criticism is one that reveals my inner old fart, if you like this My Bloody Valentine are far superior and were doing this almost 20 years early. That aside this is definitely for you if you enjoy your music in epic soundscape sized portions, and while you reach for this debut make sure you investigate its roots too.