Browse by Artist: CRAYON FIELDS, THE

Artist:	CRAYON FIELDS, THE
Title:	Animal Bells
Label:	CHAPTER MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	CH 056CD

Originally released by Chapter Music in 2006, this is the debut full-length album by Melbourne quartet, The Crayon Fields. Lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Geoff O'Connor is a myopic boy genius whose record collection consists almost solely of op-shop vinyl LPs released before 1970. Consequently, The Crayon Fields play intricate, atmospheric pop songs that recall the minor-key majesty and close-knit harmonies of '60s maestros such as The Zombies, The Byrds and The Beach Boys. The album title refers to the animal-shaped toy bells that were used throughout the album, linking its 12 concise songs. Basic tracks were recorded at Sub Studios with engineer Simon Knight, then taken home to be polished into their final shimmering shapes. Animal Bells is an unruffled, dreamy pop masterpiece. Geoff's often falsetto vocals and ringing 12-string guitar are ably accompanied by Brett Hudson's nimble bass, Chris Hung on second guitar and Neil Erenstrom on drums. Nicole and Julian of fellow Chapter artists Minimum Chips also provide guest vocals. With this multi-layered, resonant and gorgeous album, The Crayon Fields are one of Australia's finest, most intriguing bands.

Artist:	CRAYON FIELDS, THE
Title:	All The Pleasures Of The World
Label:	CHAPTER MUSIC (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	CH 066CD

This is the long-awaited second album by Melbourne, Australia's minor-key pop magicians, The Crayon Fields. In 2006, their airy, chiming debut Animal Bells (CH 056CD) was one of the year's most acclaimed releases, earning a 7.8 review on Pitchfork and voted #2 in Australia's Mess+Noise end-of-year critics poll (#4 in the general readers poll). They released a sneak preview of the new album in the form of a limited edition vinyl single, featuring the majestic pop ballad "Mirrorball," which sold out almost immediately. "All The Pleasures Of The World" was also released as a single, earning another Pitchfork rave and "Single Of The Week" in magazines around Australia. The album is delirious, UK rainy-day melancholy psychedelic indie, with some Stone Roses, Belle and Sebastian and Zombies thrown in for good measure, with its loping bass lines, swooning strings and eerie, hypnotic harmonies. Basic tracks were recorded at Head Gap studios in Melbourne with Neil Thomason (The Slits, My Disco, Ned Collette), and the album was then finished at home. Mixing and mastering was done with Lachlan Carrick (The Necks, Gotye, Architecture In Helsinki) at Moose Mastering. The album is a beyond-stunning development on Animal Bells, both poised and precocious. There's a newfound confidence and lyrical openness from vocalist Geoff O'Connor, and some of the most luscious backing ever heard on an Australian pop record from bassist Brett Hudson, guitarist Chris Hung and drummer Neil Erenstrom. Strings come courtesy of rising pop star Jessica Venables, aka Jessica Says, on cello, and her brother Nick on viola and violin. Crayon Fields have toured basically everywhere and have become a favored support band of choice in Australia, playing with the likes of Cornelius, Stereolab, Built To Spill, New Pornographers, Deerhoof, Mount Eerie, Electrelane, Unicorns and many more.

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