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HAM 016LP
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Previous Fieldhead releases have seen Paul Elam take a detached view from the hillsides of West Yorkshire and Western Canada, but with We've All Been Swimming, the subject matter is closer and more immediate. Tensely wound synths lead throughout We've All Been Swimming, shifting from the breathless momentum of the opening track through to pulses reminiscent of Colin Stetson on "Ton". The unique violin playing of Elaine Reynolds glides sparingly across the record, tempering the constantly shifting arpeggios and accentuating the human elements within the record's machine-like core. The haze found on previous releases still hangs, but now it's the haze of a crowded street or the last train home. We've All Been Swimming is a concise and inspired attempt to reduce electronica down to the things that matter. Edition of 250.
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LP
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GZH 039LP
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This album from Fieldhead continues the dusty, bereft sounds of previous releases They Shook Hands for Hours (Home Assembly, 2009) and Riser (Gizeh, 2010). 2010 saw Paul Elam depart the UK for Vancouver, Canada and there is no doubt that the vast Northern Canadian landscapes have influenced the new Fieldhead material. The familiar tape-hiss and scratchy, decaying atmospheres remain in place, but with A Correction, Elam has managed to sculpt a vaster, more expansive palate of sounds. Minimalistic on first listen, A Correction is a record which slowly unfurls on multiple listens to reveal subtle melodies and details that don't distract from the overall ambience, but in fact, set apart Fieldhead's music from many other, safer artists within the genre. The violin of Elaine Reynolds (The Boats/The Sea) adds a warmth to the sometimes desolate atmospheres and the almost constant pulse that remains throughout the record invites you to be lost for the duration and even hints at a more minimal techno direction at times. Previous comparisons of Fieldhead's work have been made to the likes of William Basinski, The Caretaker and Grouper, which, in truth, are not far from the mark. It's fair to say Elam has already stamped his name in the ambient/drone field with his previous outputs and A Correction should further enhance his reputation as someone who can seamlessly marry soundscapes and melody to form an enchanting, almost timeless piece of music. Limited edition 180 gram vinyl with download code.
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