Axel Willner

Probably a lot of people will shortly be checking out The Field due to the stellar review of "From Here We Go Sublime" on Pitchfork. This would include me. Although I have long been an afficionado of IDM/electronic music, frankly my interest in the genre had been on a precipitous decline since about 2004. While I cannot say I am any longer on top of basically every prominent label, having heard the Field I can safely say this is some of the best I have ever heard. Certainly it is in the Kompakt/German minimalist style but to me the obvious antecedent is Select Ambient Works 1 Aphex, plus Fennesz, plus some vocal cut ups in the Akufen or Boards of Canada. Ultimately, the influences should not imply the music is mostly derivative. I found the Field to be almost uniquely inspiring. The minimalist sensibilities are ... minimal, but the basic pulsing bass kicks are pure aural hedonism. There is quite a bit going down in a given track, but the focus is always a gorgeous melody. This music is at once perfect for a dj mix, a morning commute (especially in the washed out California sun), for intent listening, or backgrounding while surfing the web. Definitely check out his stuff.