Rough Fields is the moniker of Manchester-based, “electro-acoustic” composer James Birchall. According to Soundcloud, this track — “Manila” — was recorded during “time spent alone in a studio with a range of instruments, plenty of booze and a reasonable degree of introspection.” The blend of delicate folk sounds and bright electronics present on “Manila” certainly lend credence to that notion. Hell, even the instruments present on the track were lonely castaways rescued by Birchall. Discarded chopsticks and makeshift-cardboard-kick drums deftly lead listeners along as barely working guitar, mandolin, violin, and plinky melodica work their magic in the song’s seemingly endless empty space. The end result sounds like an intimate conversation with yourself in a quiet room. You run through of your feelings, file them away, get up, and move on.
Rough Fields, “Manila” (Manila, Bomb Shop)
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Words: Marc Picciolo
Tags: Bomb Shop, Rough Fields