Now You Exist gives me hope that maybe 2018 was not the last time we heard from The Field, because perhaps 2026 won’t be either. In all seriousness, this seems to be a proper comeback in a year of proper comebacks. This EP will not disappoint any longtime fan, but maybe it’s only the beginning of a new era for Willner, who hopefully hasn’t run out of ink—or MIDI tracks.
The Field as you may have always known him
It has been eight years since The Field last published music—not just new music, but any music at all. There had been complete silence, or at least it seemed that way, because I repeatedly looked up any article, interview, or anything on social media that could convince me this man was still alive, and I ended up finding nothing—but maybe it was just me. No live performances, no announcements anywhere, absolutely nothing. Turns out… he is still alive! Not only that, he’s also got some new music with him.
Seeing the announcement of this release was almost a shock for me. I initially thought it was some batch of old material that Kompakt (the pillar of leftfield techno under which all of The Field‘s work was published) had managed to unearth. But no, this is genuinely new The Field. Also new is the label, as Now You Exist has been published by Studio Barnhus; if you wonder why that is, you can read the recent article in The Guardian, which explains why this label is the sole reason for this rebirth. Also surprising is the cover, which ends the tradition of all his releases following the same visual template—with the exception of another EP, 2007’s Sound of Light. It is a rebirth in every way, and oh, how lucky we are to witness it.
I will first say that Axel Willner‘s debut album, From Here We Go Sublime, is one of my favorite records, period. When I first listened to it some years ago, it blew my mind as to what techno and trance could become when a stroke of genius occurs, so much so that I wouldn’t really dare call it an EDM album in any way. Since then, his whole catalogue has had a grasp on me, and I was let down by the fact that he had seemingly disappeared before I even discovered his music. Now You Exist is a release that brightened not only my day, but my entire month.
The opposite of a jack of all trades ::
This EP is The Field as you may have always known him. It merges techno beats with atmospheric elements, while trance and psychedelia influences are present throughout. The Field thus proves himself to be the opposite of a jack of all trades. That magical blend of looped, chopped-up vocal samples over ethereal techno was deeply missed, as no one else can replicate this style. It feels as fresh as ever for exactly that reason.
There are, however, some interesting aspects about this EP. First is the opening tune, “In Our Dreams,” which is a rare track featuring, I believe, live vocals instead of samples. It is a wonderfully psychedelic cut in which the drums are introduced very shyly, allowing the vocals to shine at first; it gradually shifts from a somewhat ambient piece into an entrancing techno journey and is certainly one of his most unique tracks. A more classic sound is found in the next two tracks, “333 706” and “Hey Baby.” I’m particularly fond of the latter, as it’s the track that most closely resembles a trance song.
The last two pieces are even better, and among The Field‘s best material overall, I’d say. “Another Day” is a surprisingly melodic track that barely resembles techno, leaning more toward downtempo. It’s another psychedelic number, extremely relaxed and hazy, though its type of distortion appears throughout most of the EP. The closing title track is a very classic icy techno tune with stuttering vocal chops; the hi-hats, specifically, have that unmistakable Field touch that makes this track instantly recognizable as one of his—and one I’m especially keen on.
Now You Exist gives me hope that maybe 2018 was not the last time we heard from The Field, because perhaps 2026 won’t be either. In all seriousness, this seems to be a proper comeback in a year of proper comebacks. This EP will not disappoint any longtime fan, but maybe it’s only the beginning of a new era for Willner, who hopefully hasn’t run out of ink—or MIDI tracks.
Originally published on Rate Your Music and republished here with permission.
Now You Exist is available on Studio Barnhus. [Bandcamp]
