Coastal The Field Mice

Field Day is the first studio album from Anthony Phillips in 5 years in between various series releases of the Archive Collection, library & TV projects and compilations. It is also the sequel to Private Parts & Pieces V: Twelve, in which the acoustic guitar is the sole instrument on the album. The sleeve cover is designed by GR/DD, based in London. As Anthony Phillips explains in the sleeve notes, the album started off as a small project but not only grew in time, it also took a long time to record the album due to other project schedules. more…

This is the second, and perhaps more aggressively experimental, installment in the Bang on Can All-Stars’ acclaimed commissioned composer series. Like its predecessor, More Field Recordings once again explores strange new terrain where found sound, samples and archival audio collide with contemporary classical music, written by a wide range of artists and performed by the All-Stars.

Anyone who thought Fellini Days was a notch under Fish's previous two studio releases (Sunsets on Empire and Raingods With Zippos) should feel relieved after listening to Field of Crows, a very fine entry in the gentle giant's discography. Fish (ex-Marillion) is making the best out of his lowering voice on this album, which could be seen as a sign of maturity. This album rocks out, but it mostly relies on mellower tracks and simpler songwriting - something reminiscent of Ian Anderson's own dealings with an aging voice and more introspective interests. Fish's focus is not on extended suites and shifting moods anymore, but elegant, intelligent songs, and in that regard he deserves an A for Field of Crows…

Field of Crows is Fish's eighth solo studio album since he left Marillion in 1988 and the first since Fellini Days (2001). Released on Fish's own label Chocolate Frog Records Company, retail distribution is now handled by Snapper Music.