Dreaming Of Grey Fields - Dreaming Of Grey Fields

Dreaming Of Grey Fields

Dreaming Of Grey Fields
Minor Sphere Records; 2014

4.4 out of 5 - TOP ALBUM

By Ted Rogen

Hailing from Toulouse, France, Dreaming Of Grey Fields is the combined efforts of Anthony (guitars), David (bass), Michaël (guitars, keyboards, vocals) and Maia (lead vocals) - (sorry I don't have last names) that recently released an exceptional self-titled six-song EP Dreaming of Grey Fields. It’s honestly frustrating to me that music this good is going basically  unnoticed. They have a hundred Facebook likes for christsakes. 

This music is a delicate almost perfect balance between shoegaze, pop and electronic music. The guitars are usually drenched in reverb but they also create hazy dream-like atmospheres while the organic bass and electronic drums hold it down with an effective low end. The vocals are irresistibly infectious but also are coated with melancholy. Maia has an original sounding voice that avoids clichés as it resonates with heartfelt sentiment. Suffice it to say every song on the EP feels unique within itself but also connected to the overall vibe of the EP. A task that many try to accomplish but few attain.

The EP opens with “Palomino” that crackles and pops with kinetic energy. An arpeggiated synth cascades back and forth between a delayed guitar while Maia delivers her lines. Once the chorus enters she repeats the same lyrics but dear god is it catchy. Great song to start the EP with. 

“Splendour” drips with waves of white noise and is slow but effective. The vocals are emotionally heavy and hit you whether you want it to or not. The band goes three for three with “Secretly A Horse,” which builds on their strengths but is also more percussively heavy than the previous songs on the album. 

Don't pass up “Wardonia” or “Schwizzie” but if you have no patience and want to hear the best the band has to offer then play “Cast.” The first half of the song is pure pop goodness with vocal harmonies that I was immediately humming along with while the second half is a gooey, beautiful mess of white noise that has comparisons to My Bloody Valentine and M83.

The songs are there but so is the production. Everything is where it should be and the recording sounded professional. All I have to say is that is an exceptional debut that showcases a band I hope to hear a lot more from.

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