The Follower

Axel Willner doesn't compromise. Aptly titled, 'The Follower' is the followup to 'Cupid's Head' and his previous body of work, and it follows the same modus operandi of repetitive techno. Yet, 'The Follower' is The Field's most palatable album since 'Yesterday and Today'.

The title track to The Field's THE FOLLOWER might trick you into thinking that Mr. Willner has suddenly turned to acid. But then the vocal loops come in, and then the familiar Field warmth. It's a juicy bait-and-switch. But "Pink Sun" starts out with the warmth, all the more to let "Monte Verità" blossom in its moodier groove and deeper bass hits. "Soft Streams" takes a mellower approach, however, and stays subdued for its long run time. The Field has always edged towards the 10+ minute long track, but here, it seems to have fully come to fruition, with 2/3rd of the tracks creeping past that mark. Luckily, Willner is able enough to vary the interiors of his track so that that they continually transform, oftentimes subtly, as on "Raise the Dead," which starts off slow and dreamy, though with an insistent hi-hat, or the closer, "Reflecting Lights," which has a much more brittle introduction, but quickly warms into a gentle psychedelia. Somehow, The Field had made avid followers of us all.

Gets off to a blinding start which for me makes the rest of the album just not sound as good. Played on random it works really well but the running order means by the end of the album you're left a little disappointed.