Released on Kompact records, home to the likes of Foals and Rex the Dog, a lot was expected of Willner to come up with something stronger than their debut album, 'From Here We Go Sublime', which was no easy feat, giving how excellent the debut was.
Released only two years ago, the band immediately can draw comparisons with the likes of Explosions in the Sky in terms of their musical dynamics, and the techno drawl of Trentemoller, and when performed live it sounds like nothing else.
From that album, the highlights in tonight's set included the simply fantastic 'Over the Ice', with its infectious piano riff over a simple four-four beat, and 'The Little Heart Beats So Fast', which has an acid-house bass line like no other.
After dedicating the first song of their set to the late Jamie Fuchs, drummer for several New York bands, no other word was said on stage by the band to the audience, except to thank the unfortunately small in numbers crowd for coming down and enjoying their set.
In their 4-piece set-up, Willner takes to his laptop, with his backing band on bass, synthesizers, sample mixers and live drums, which proves to be a winning cocktail.
On a night which saw the city drowned with rain, and a bitterly cold wind, the Field, for me, and those that made the effort to attend, quickly warmed the crowd right through, with dancing ensuing around the venue.
With their latest album, The Field have taken their samples and loops and transformed them into something completely refreshing, offering an almost different musical direction from their debut, without losing its music ideals and simplicity.
Highlights for their latest album in tonight's set included the albums opener, the piano laden 'I have the Moon, You Have the Internet', which slotted in very nicely amongst the older material, and 'The More That I Do', really went down with the audience.
My personal highlight of the set, taken from their latest album acid-like, repetitive bass line based song 'Sequenced', which saw the audience really let the band into them, and take their feet with them.
From tonight, it's safe to say the live, the band are as incredible as they are on record. They're something refreshing, cool, and even though popularity hasn't hit them, their music is something that is so simple, yet interesting, that they will continually impress.
The one thing that The Field do lack is that dancefloor filler, that will always draw the crowds, but for now, they seem more than content to do what they're doing, and that's making simply stunning music.
article by: Anthony Hetherington
published: 20/11/2009 16:04
FUTURE GIGS
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