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Mistletone presents The Field for the first time in Australia, featuring Stockholm native and blissed-out futurist Axel Willner with his live rhythm section.
Launched unto the world by renowned German label Kompakt in 2005, The Field expounded a new fusion of ambient and techno which was informed as much by the shoegazer rock of Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine as by the aesthetics of Kompakt and 1990s techno (post-pop ambient, anyone?).
Following a cherished 12″ debut and a remix of Annie’s My Heartbeat that leapt onto the web, The Field became a blogosphere cult favourite and remains so to this day. The Field’s debut album From Here We Go Sublime was one of 2007’s most talked about and universally praised releases; the BBC called it “one of those rare albums that makes you wonder how you ever got by without it”, and Pitchfork bestowed a mighty 9.0 rating, declaring: “If Willner doesn’t hit at least some of your pleasure centres, your nerve endings might actually be dead.”
Non-stop touring around the world ensued with !!!, LCD Soundsystem, The Juan MacLean and others. In 2008, Willner grew weary of performing alone, and The Field has now evolved into a three piece band, bringing a completely new depth and voracity to their live performances.
Last year saw the release of the acclaimed Yesterday & Today which continued The Field’s oblique sampling strategy while building up the rhythmic architecture; the title track featured a collaboration with Battles drummer John Stanier.
Ever since he startled the world with From Here We Go Sublime, Willner has been much in demand as a remixer, with tracks from Thom Yorke to Battles to Maps raising his profile, so that now legions are gathered, in the spit-shined airport terminal of their dreams, waiting for their blissed-out departure.
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