Field of Reeds

Last updated

Field of Reeds
Field of Reeds.jpg
Studio album by
These New Puritans
Released10 June 2013 (2013-06-10)
Recorded2012
Studio
  • Studio P4 Funkhaus Nalepastraße (Berlin)
  • Snap Studios (London, England)
  • Modern World Studios (Tetbury, England)
Genre
Length53:00
Label Infectious
Producer
These New Puritans chronology
Hidden
(2010)		Field of Reeds
(2013)		 Inside the Rose
(2019)

Field of Reeds is the third studio album by British art rock band These New Puritans, released on 10 June 2013 on Infectious Music. Produced by Jack Barnett and Graham Sutton, the album features prominent contributions from over thirty-eight session musicians, including jazz singer Elisa Rodrigues, [5] and finds the band "reinventing themselves as a neoclassical ensemble." [4] The album is the band's first without keyboardist Sophie Sleigh-Johnson, who departed from the band in 2012.

Contents

Released to widespread critical acclaim, Field of Reeds reached number ninety on the UK Albums Chart.

Background and recording

During the recording of Field of Reeds the band worked extensively with classical musicians and singers, including two large ensembles: the Stargaze Ensemble and the Synergy Vocal Ensemble. Regarding the recording process, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Jack Barnett noted, "We pissed off a lot of people making this album, and drove a lot of people mad. We worked long hours of the day, every day. I'm a bit of a perfectionist. Maybe some of the musicians thought, 'It's some popular music project, we can all relax, put our feet up.' But it was a big challenge." [6]

Release

On 13 June 2013 the band released a music video for the album's second track, "Fragment Two", directed by Daniel Askill. [7] Videos were also made for "Organ Eternal" and "V (Island Song)".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.9/10 [8]
Metacritic 82/100 [9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [10]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
NME 6/10 [15]
Pitchfork 8.4/10 [4]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [17]
Uncut 8/10 [18]

Field of Reeds received highly positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from professional critics, the album received an average score of 82 based on 26 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [9]

In 2016, Fact placed Field of Reeds at number 26 on its list of the best post-rock albums of all time, with staff writer Chal Ravens describing the album as "one of only a few records that could claim to be a successor of Talk Talk's majestic strand of post-rock". [3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jack Barnett, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."This Guy's in Love with You"
3:02
2."Fragment Two" 4:34
3."The Light in Your Name"
6:03
4."V (Island Song)" 9:16
5."Spiral" 6:03
6."Organ Eternal" 5:31
7."Nothing Else" 7:49
8."Dream" 4:14
9."Field of Reeds" 6:28
Total length:53:00

Personnel

These New Puritans

Additional musicians

Singers
Soloists
Stargaze Ensemble
Synergy Vocal Ensemble
Children of St Mary's Church of England Primary School
Others

Recording personnel

Artwork

Charts

Chart (2013)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [19] 76
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [20] 168
UK Albums (OCC) [21] 90
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [22] 17

Related Research Articles

<i>The Last Waltz</i> (1978 album) 1978 soundtrack album by The Band

The Last Waltz is the second live album by The Band, released on Warner Bros. Records in 1978, catalogue 3WS 3146. It is the soundtrack to the 1978 film of the same name, and the final album by the original configuration of the Band. It peaked at #16 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Unforgettable... with Love</i> 1991 studio album by Natalie Cole

Unforgettable... with Love, also known as simply Unforgettable, is a 1991 album by American singer Natalie Cole. Released on June 11, 1991, the album includes covers of standards previously performed by her father, Nat King Cole. It was also her debut for Elektra Records, after being given her release from EMI Records.

<i>Dear Ella</i> 1997 studio album by Dee Dee Bridgewater

Dear Ella is a 1997 studio album by Dee Dee Bridgewater, recorded in tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, who had died the previous year.

<i>Thighs and Whispers</i> 1979 studio album by Bette Midler

Thighs and Whispers is the fifth studio album by American singer Bette Midler. Released in 1979, the album reached #65 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.

These New Puritans

These New Puritans are an English music group/band from Southend-on-Sea, England. It consists mainly of Jack Barnett and his twin brother George Barnett. Multi-instrumentalist Thomas Hein was an active member of TNP between 2006 and 2016; keyboardist Sophie Sleigh-Johnson was active between 2006 and 2010. They have recorded four studio albums: Beat Pyramid (2008), Hidden (2010), Field of Reeds (2013) and Inside the Rose (2019).

<i>Demon Flower</i> 1994 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

Demon Flower is the eighth studio album by Australian rock band, Hunters & Collectors and was released on 16 May 1994. It was co-produced by the band with Nick Mainsbridge, reaching No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association. It also peaked at No. 9 on the New Zealand Albums Chart.

<i>Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me</i> (Gloria Estefan album) 1994 studio album by Gloria Estefan

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me is the fifth studio solo album and first cover album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is the 17th overall, released in October 1994.

<i>Abriendo Puertas</i> (Gloria Estefan album) 1995 studio album by Gloria Estefan

Abriendo Puertas is a 1995 album released by Gloria Estefan. It is her sixth studio album as a soloist and second Spanish language album released.

<i>Naughty</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Chaka Khan

Naughty is the second solo album by American R&B and funk singer Chaka Khan, released on Warner Bros. Records in 1980.

<i>Beat Pyramid</i> 2008 studio album by These New Puritans

Beat Pyramid is the debut studio album by British art rock band These New Puritans. It was released on 28 January 2008 in the United Kingdom through Angular and Domino and on 18 March 2008 in the United States through Domino. The album was recorded in London and Paris during 2007 and was produced by Gareth Jones in London. The double A-side "Numbers/Colours", "Elvis" and "Swords of Truth" were released as singles.

<i>Aretha</i> (1980 album) 1980 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha is the twenty-sixth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was released on September 30, 1980, by Arista Records. This was the second album with this title to be released by the artist, and her first for Arista Records after a 12-year tenure with Atlantic Records.

<i>Greetings and Salutations</i> Studio album by Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and the Swedish Radio Orchestra

Greetings and Salutations is a 1975 big band jazz album recorded by the Swedish Radio Jazz Group with Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and Jon Faddis as guest bandleader / performers. The album was nominated for a 1978 Grammy award in the Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band category.

<i>Chaka</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Chaka Khan

Chaka is the debut solo album by singer Chaka Khan. It was released on October 12, 1978 through Warner Bros Record label.

<i>The Individualism of Gil Evans</i> 1964 studio album by Gil Evans

The Individualism of Gil Evans is an album by pianist, conductor, arranger and composer Gil Evans originally released on the Verve label in 1964. It features Evans' big band arrangements of five original compositions and compositions by Kurt Weill, Bob Dorough, John Lewis and Willie Dixon. Tracks 1, 6, 7, 8 & 9 first appeared on the CD version of the album.

<i>Bringing Back the Funk</i> 2008 studio album by Brian Culbertson

Bringing Back the Funk is a studio album by Brian Culbertson released in 2008 on GRP Records. The album rose to No. 3 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and No. 15 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.

<i>Out of the Bluffs</i> 2009 studio album by University of Memphis, Southern Comfort Jazz Orchestra

Out Of The Bluffs is a 2009 compact disc by the University of Memphis Southern Comfort Jazz Orchestra recorded in the studio. This was their 2nd CD release since 2007. Since the late 1960s this group has been consistently recognized as one of the top collegiate jazz ensembles in the country recently being invited to the 2011 Jazz Education Network Convention, the 2000 International Association for Jazz Education Convention, and touring Europe in 1998. Musicians from this CD and program won the 2007 University of South Florida Michael Brecker Arranging Competition and others went on to study with Bob Brookmeyer at the New England Conservatory of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and also work professionally at universities and major symphony orchestras.

<i>Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole</i> 2013 studio album by George Benson

Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole is a studio album by George Benson. The album was released by Concord Jazz on June 4, 2013. It peaked at #89 on the Billboard album chart.

<i>Working Girl</i> (Original Soundtrack Album) 1989 soundtrack album by Carly Simon

Working Girl is the soundtrack album to the 1988 Mike Nichols film Working Girl.

<i>Memphis</i> (Boz Scaggs album) 2013 studio album by Boz Scaggs

Memphis is the seventeenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Boz Scaggs. It was Scaggs's first solo release since 2008's Speak Low. The album was released on March 5, 2013, by 429 Records. The album has debuted on Billboard 200 at No. 17, and has sold 90,000 copies in the US as of March 2015.

Inside the Rose is the fourth studio album by art rock band These New Puritans.

References

  1. ↑ Paine, Andre (20 May 2013). "These New Puritans, Heaven – music review". Evening Standard . Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  2. ↑ Dowling, Jordan (20 May 2013). "These New Puritans – Field Of Reeds Album Review". Contactmusic . Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  3. 1 2 Bowe, Miles; Horner, Al; Lobenfeld, Claire; Ravens, Chal; Twells, John; Welsh, April Clare; Wilson, Scott (20 April 2016). "The 30 best post-rock albums of all time". Fact . Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Snapes, Laura (14 June 2013). "These New Puritans: Field of Reeds". Pitchfork . Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  5. ↑ Southall, Nick (30 May 2013). "These New Puritans' Field Of Reeds, Track-By-Track Preview". The Quietus . Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  6. ↑ Snapes, Laura (8 May 2013). "These New Puritans". Pitchfork . Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  7. ↑ Murray, Robin (14 June 2016). "These New Puritans – Fragment Two". Clash . Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "Field Of Reeds by These New Puritans reviews". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Reviews for Field of Reeds by These New Puritans". Metacritic . Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  10. ↑ Lymangrover, Jason. "Field of Reeds – These New Puritans". AllMusic . Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  11. ↑ Costa, Maddy (6 June 2013). "These New Puritans: Field of Reeds – review". The Guardian . Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  12. ↑ Gill, Andy (7 June 2013). "Album review: These New Puritans, Field Of Reeds (Infectious)". The Independent . Archived from the original on 12 June 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  13. ↑ Murphy, Lauren (7 June 2013). "These New Puritans: Field of Reeds". The Irish Times . Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  14. ↑ "These New Puritans: Field of Reeds". Mojo (237): 92. August 2013.
  15. ↑ Hewitt, Ben (7 June 2013). "These New Puritans: Field of Reeds". NME . Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  16. ↑ "These New Puritans: Field of Reeds". Q (324): 111. July 2013.
  17. ↑ Draper, Jason (July 2013). "These New Puritans – Field of Reeds". Record Collector (416). Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  18. ↑ "These New Puritans: Field of Reeds". Uncut (194): 65. July 2013.
  19. ↑ "Ultratop.be – These New Puritans – Field of Reeds" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  20. ↑ "Ultratop.be – These New Puritans – Field of Reeds" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  21. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  22. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.