The Far Field are a new five-piece band made up of Nicola Tee, (vocals & keys) Dan Lucas, (lead guitar) Katie King, (bass guitar) Adam McVey, (rhythm guitar) and Cameron Sheppard (drums). The band are from Kent and the area is almost a sixth member of the band.

It’s rare for a band to be so connected with a place, but the sprawling fields and forests of Kent have played a significant role in inspiring The Far Field’s distinctive sound, which sits somewhere between post-rock and nineties emo. They combine blistering guitars with plush vocals in a way that is truly unique and are therefore worthy of a repeat listen.

The album artwork for their first single, ‘Vector’, originally released in late October of this year, perhaps best encapsulates The Far Field’s overall tone: an in-car shot of a bleak motorway on a drizzly day. However, streaking up the right-hand side of the scene are water dappled thickets and, off to the horizon, a hazy rainbow peaks through a grey sky.

The Far Field have just released their first self-titled EP, which includes their first single, ‘Vector’, written by the band and recorded, mixed and produced by Dan Lucas at his own studio, The Joplin House. ‘Vector’ sits second on the EP’s track order and begins with McVey and Lucas digging into their guitars like battle-axes, as they keep time with Sheppard’s mini fanfares. Above the frenzy, Tee glides over the top with some delicately placed vocal overlays. It’s a hard-hitting first thirty seconds made all the more impactful by the EP’s first track, ‘Last Verse Of Summer’. It’s a quaint and conceptual opener that lasts just over a minute and lulls the listener into its naturalistic soundscape with clean guitar notes, thick whirring keys and running water.

Meanwhile, ‘Vector’ lurches between power pop and college rock before introducing a haunting brass section that subverts all expectations. Speaking of their sound, The Far Field have said, ‘We sound like Band of Horses on a date with Built to Spill watching a movie about The Shins’.

Much like the plot of any good movie, The Far Field ensure their songs are well paced, allowing for thelistener to draw breath in places. Even the third track, ‘Luna Park’, with its Superheaven inspired riff, finds space for respite for Tee to give the track an otherworldly feel as she taps into a vocal texture reminiscent of Kirsty MacColl.

‘Hollywoodland’ and ‘Ghost’ make up the EP’s final act. Both could easily be metal songs due to the amount of time signatures they play with. Listening to these tracks in isolation, I’m reminded of some early Biffy Clyro entries from The Vertigo of Bliss. Perhaps in the date scenario with Band of Horses and Built to Spill, the Biffy boys are the ones punching tickets on the way into The Shins film?

As well as playing an EP release show earlier this month at 20 th Century Speedway in Folkstone, The Far Field have also recently played a show at The Sussex Arms in Tunbridge Wells alongside Sea Driver and Brighton four-piece, Pleasance. More shows are certain to follow soon.

Review by Charva Writes Stuff