The album flows in a crisp loop influenced and foggy slow motion ritual to repeat, for me it slows things down in an interesting way.
Amorphous shapeshifting and enhancing distant hints
A door opens to a world of greensward, haunted by consistent drones and keyboards, what is to be found in such a reach? “Distance is an album inspired by feelings of freedom and exploration. Letting go and allowing things to take shape.” I am going on a long journey, here is where I will tell you about it. There are some ingredients listed: Keyboard drone layers, loose loops and phrases, hand-played and crafted on Ciat Lonbarde instruments and a Eurorack system, then sampled and processed on the modular tape machines, effects and an Ensoniq ASR-10. All the tracks were performed and recorded live to tape. I am walking a long distance, in the open spaces between the roads. I am thinking about how the land once had no roads.
The list of ingredients goes on, adding to what we know before we embark. Ciat Lonbarde Cocoquantus, Plumbutter and Tetrax Organ, Ensoniq ASR-10, Eurorack modular system, Squarp Pyramid, Montreal Assembly/Bastl/Moog/OTO/Chase Bliss/Cooper FX/Elektron/Eventide units, Roland RE-201, Nagra 4.2 and various tape machines.
Begin, find a cautiously welcoming drone and keyboard, there is a glitchy patina that gives a nostalgic glow or haze, depending on the moment. “Waits” (5:58) keeps a sustained breeze over the late winter earview. The album flows in a crisp loop influenced and foggy slow motion ritual to repeat, for me it slows things down in an interesting way.
Sometimes I might hear a slow repeating pattern within the drone multiverse, where the moment can be forever, where there are breaking waves somewhere out there, crashing on the shore the way waves do in the distance, forever. Is this the ocean, thundering waves pounding on gravel, reaching through the frozen fog? I never know. “Believe” (3:56) I believe that music is related to theater, and this sound is an atmosphere that unfolds slowly, welcoming and hushing shushing slowing down and floating, dreaming blends ideas plus something unknown which makes it work. I think the listener should remember to just enjoy the ride and take initiative to imagine what more the music brings to mind.
A slow repeating pattern within the drone multiverse ::
I keep thinking of a harmonium playing slowly, like the way an accordion breathes, I keep hearing the ocean in the distance, the endless sounds of waves on the beach. “Sway” (6:02), the swaying is under water in very slow motion or is it somewhere else? Dreaming of dusty light beams and a keyboard, filling into amorphous shapeshifting and enhancing distant hints. The tracks are continuously flowing in the drone style, long sustained notes and textures, surprises and what turns out to be pieces of a slow moving puzzle, what does that sound like?
“Stands” (5:38), repeating patterns and resting exequy atmospherics. “Touch” (6:04), repeating undulation, a buzzing drone, a sweeping sad melody as the radiation overwhelms and then fades, the rest of the moving parts continue to sound in their own strange ways creating a restful (or tedious) atmosphere to journey deeply with, a meditation to prepare for sleep. A relaxing pause to listen and nap. “Release” (5:20), restfully rising incrementally, drifting in and out. Leading to “Only” (1:58), a brief interlude sorting and smoldering. “Horizon” (4:23), a new possibility, reflection and growing illumination. Now we are passing through trees and abundant life which is not always evident, “Woods” (4:34), standing watching for motion and with a nose following the wind.
The Fields We Found project has been slowing down time and creating a listening experience for contemplating emotive, optimistic and peaceful tracks, hoping to help people find calm and space.
From Al x Fields We Found, reflecting on his creative process:
“Find people and art that inspires you — so many interesting and creative folk are out there and there is so much to learn. It’s been said many times before, but starting to properly understand it really opened my eyes, limitations spark creativity. Going as far as possible with a small setup, recording to tape, whatever your way of interpreting it.
“Before Fields We Found, I’d been making music for a long time in a bit of a vacuum. Over the past few years I’ve been lucky enough to meet some amazing like-minded artists and develop a freer way of producing, both of which inspired me to make music that’s the most expressive and honest I’ve ever done. That became FWF and I feel so fortunate for all the support I’ve had getting it out into the world.”
Distance is available on Seil. [Bandcamp]
