Release Date: October 11, 2011
The Field’s Looping State of Mind is exactly what it sounds like: continuous loops layered atop one another, creating a soundscape that’s engulfing. Axel Willner goes under the moniker The Field as a minimalist techno DJ integrating shoegaze, indie rock and electronica to manipulate the senses. Adding a touch of disco and a Daft Punk vibe, Looping State of Mind is a multifaceted synchronization of ambient beats and swift tempos.
In his 2007 debut release, From Here We Go Sublime, The Field created dense trance-style techno with minimal layers and simplistic beats. And in 2009, Yesterday and Today dabbled in textured melodies and more complex blocks of sound. The Field’s sound progressively and subtly grew deeper and deeper.
Looping State of Mind is even more aesthetically pleasing to the average ear, proving that his musical evolution continues.
Willner’s modern disco loops coated with high-powered synth, deep kick drum and poppy dance beats are tauntingly flavorful, even hypnotic. This album has so many peaks and valleys, but the constant battle lends itself well.
“Is This Power” is not for the rhythmically challenged. The poignant beats weave in and out creating a pattern that’s utterly engaging; just try to stay seated. Loud battles soft in a fight to the end. It’s a near-never-ending repetition going almost five minutes into the eight-minute track. As the calm, soothing thumps begin to set in, it blows right back up. Ahh, the perfect formula of a dance DJ mastered.
Sliding the overpowering rings of twitching beats into the backdrop, “It’s Up There” is an atmospherical hodgepodge of ambient drags and layered melodies. This tune is spacious and warped, cymbals crash down, and bass riffs orbit around one another. It’s a tantalizing example of the power of The Field.
Opening with hip-hop seasoned loops and fast twirls, title track “Looping State of Mind” slowly blends deeper into a style reminiscent of The Knife. The eerie drops swallow you whole, but the bright tech-savvy waves are peaceful.
There are highs and lows, peaks and valleys, crashes and disconnects. The Field’s subtle ties to pop trends allow this album to be accepted across the board. From lullabylike “Then It’s White” to the hauntingly tinged “Burned Out,” Willner is a soundscapist if there were such a thing. Echoed vocals and reverberating loops are the framework to Looping State of Mind; it’s one which uncoils into a colorful daydream.
The Field – Looping State of Mind tracklist:
- “Is This Power”
- “It’s Up There”
- “Burned Out”
- “Arpeggiated Love”
- “Looping State of Mind”
- “Then It’s White”
- “Sweet Slow Baby”
