The Beat Surrender

Do you have a band that you just keep missing? I’ve wanted to see Fields for the best part of a year. If they haven’t clashed with other commitments, they’ve been on far too early and I’ve only got to see the headliners. However, tonight there’s no chance of missing them, I already have my ticket and I’ve got the day off work (bonus!).I even manage to get there at a reasonable hour to see some of the support’s set.

Hush The Many are quietly spoken and look like rabbits stuck in the headlights. I’ve come down to the stage area thinking it’s a full house, but to my surprise people are standing quite far back from the stage, and there’s people sat on the floor – bleeding folk types eh! So after weaving our way through the little throng, we sit ourselves down (not on the floor I have to add) and get to hear about three songs.

With mumbling introductions whilst staring at the floor, I’m not expecting great things. But, I’m glad to say my concerns are quashed. Hush the Many’s songs start with softly sung lyrics which slowly build with the help of cello, bass and guitars into quite a powerful force. I find them mesmerising, I love the cello, and the male female vocal bring warm lush melodies – Song For A Page is particular favourite.

I feel slightly deflated as actually seeing Fields feels a bit of an anticlimax. Opening with the dramatic If You Fail, We All Fail, I’m hoping for a continuation of this brilliance. However, the gig is a little like a rollercoaster ride, the highs being Charming The Flames, School Books, and of course Song For The Fields which feel like fully-formed, well-polished songs. It’s here where their atmospheric wall of sound really brings the angelic voice of Thorunn to the forefront. Unfortunately, the songs smattered between these lose my interest completely.

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