The Playing Fields ' from there to here' The
germination of the band starts with Stephen Bland from Enfield,
North London. As a teenager, he organized and performed with
several group incarnations in Canterbury, while serving time at
the university, booking bands and promoting clubs. After many
false starts, Steve formed a band with brother, Michael Bland,
and childhood friend to both, Jeff Baskett. They forged a unique
sound, dark, intense pieces fixed with beautifully melodious
song-writing. Mike took the lead vocals, Steve harmonies, both
brothers duelling on guitar while Jeff played bass, sorted
computer samples, and ate sugary plastic on the side.
In 2004/5 the band honed their performance skills in live gigs.
The songs developed in complexity and with a harder rhythmic
drive. An acoustic version of their song Valley of Salt was
featured on BBC TV's Hustle. Originally the lyrics came from
Stephen's poetic prose, both brothers editing and splicing from
this source, until Michael delved into his life experiences to
create succinct emotional portraits, offsetting Steve's
detached, literary style. Despite the differences, the brothers
have a harmonious song writing collaboration that forms the bulk
of The Playing Fields catalogue.
2006 After reaching the glass ceiling of the music industry in
Israel with the bands Music of Chabce and The Following, Ron
Rosenblum migrated to the UK. He joined The Playing Fields on
drums and provided the missing link to solidify their sound.
With the completion of their line up, The Playing Fields defy
comparison, and have invented a new genre for their sound: Urban
Desert.
2007 Cyberspace beckoned, The Playing Fields found cult success
on myspace with international DJs, press and fans joining the
local fan base. The band recorded their debut LP, "Hello New
World" at SickRoom Studios with Owen Turner, mastered by Kramer
(from Second Shimmy Label/Galaxie 500/Lou Reed/Yo La Tengo
fame). The album was released in the UK and Ireland on CactiShed...Records
and is getting a great response. Their track Sylvia Thompson has
also been featured on the Coca Cola/Paste Magazine new music
website.
Click Title To Hear Track From The Playing Fields Flipside Play-list
Click Map For Directions To
The Venue Sweet ECA Studio 2 -
Edinburgh College of Art,
Lauriston Place -
Edinburgh - EH3 9DF
Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Sweet ECA Studio 2,
Edinburgh College of Art,
Lauriston Place
Edinburgh, EH3 9DF
16th & 17th August
Beyond The Festival
Water Rats
328 Grays Inn Road
Kings Cross
London
WC1X 8BZ
1st September
The Basement
Coney Street,
York,
YO1 9QL
2 October
The Word Is Out!
"A record of dark, intense melody driven
tunesmithery that oozes atmosphere." - Fused Magazine
"Their brilliant debut album is a mesmerizing journey which
will have you captivated from start to finish." - L107FM,
featured artist of the week
"The band’s sound is... what might happen if Lou Reed and H.
P. Lovecraft met in a pub one dark and gloomy night and decided
to form a band. Some of the most hauntingly-poetic lyrics ever
to grace a debut - or for that matter, platinum - album." -
Music4M
"Blew me away, absolutely stunning... one of the best albums
of 2006. Should be played up and down on every alternative
station around the globe. So much atmosphere, I hardly could
believe it... breathtaking; it's so irresistible and catchy
(they) must have sold their souls to the devil.” - Kontrast
FM Radio
"Dark, melodic tunesmiths," - The Guardian
“Melody-drenched indie pop,” - Time Out
"Melancholic melodies with style and arreting honesty." -
Bubblegum Slut Magazine
"A very strong first record deserving of mainstream media
attention. It's been a long time since an unknown band has
appeared on my radar and completly surprised me. Depth and
complexity, dark & menacing... Great stuff!" - Rock Beat
Stone
"Just the right blend of melody and passion... Wow!" -
Acrylic Tom Tom
"Outstanding... The CD sounds incredible, absolutely
brilliant!" (The Playing Fields, Artist of the week, twice,
Artists of the year 2006, Christopher Laird show, Radio Nowhere)
"Welding a tuneful melody to the observational verve of a
Smog or Will Oldham... Great" (Dandelion Radio, Artist of the
Month December 2006, Number 7 in "John Peel" festive fifty list)
“An album that looms at you from out of the shadows and
proceeds to beat you with dark melody, cutting lyrics and
burning fiddle. Hypnotic is a word too often used these days,
but what do you say when something genuinely is... truly
mesmerising.” - Fatea
"Excellently crafted with real passion... Each instrument
resonates an ambience that had me fixed, and the minutes seemed
to disappear in seconds. The Playing Fields brought a
refreshingly reflective vibe to my urban landscape and I could
imagine this track being played in any scene of a film where the
protagonists have parted." - Music On Air
"Passion and drive... taking you to a high crescendo of
emotion." - TotalSpec Magazine
"Stunningly well crafted song-writing, alarming in it's
depth and darkness, the songs billow from the speakers like a
dense musical fog engulfing all who dare stand in it's way. The
record defies comparison, hynotises and mesmerises... a lush
carpet of brooding soundscapes." - Fuse Magazine
"A rare sense of depth, both lyrically and instrumentally...
irresistable melodic diversity is sown into the entire bredth of
this collection of songs... it's easy to get excited about this
band." - NME
"Uh-Oh. Sweet Jesus. WOW. these are GREAT songs." -
Kramer
"Tight, focused and forward.. with tremendous string
accompaniment which could make your heart melt. We love it.. as
if our ears requested this especially. There is nothing better
than feeling happy about a great album you have heard today.
Brighten up your tomorrow by buying Hello New World." -
Unearthed Trasures
"Depth and complexity, dark & menacing... Great stuff!" -
Rock Beat Stone
"Lovely music..." - DJ Elke, XLNZ FM/ Last FM
“The cd is one of the best I’ve heard this year!” - Chris
Smith XND radio
"Dark, ethereal soundscapes," - Islington Gazette
"Mesmerising and hypnotic... Sucks you in and you're
captivated by this brilliant CD." - It's Not The Bands I
Hate, It's The Fans
"The album sounds great," - Dave Cusick, The Post Modern
Rock Show, (playlisted artist) KPSU FM, Oregon
"Excellent debut album." - CKUT 90.3 FM
"An inspired record that stands out from the pack." -
Allmusic
"Haunting melodies, momentous guitar riffs, uplifting
emotional intensity... lyrics that read like poetry." - The
Sound Magazine
"An oceansize beguiling record... with a disaffected grunge
snarl... gripping and poignant." - Vanity Project
"Fabulous, passionate, love the band... killer tracks...
kick arse!" - YourSpace radio, Featured Artist
"Edgy, with haunting melodies & great lyrics; they're gonna
be big!" - 3TuneDude, Featured artist, December 2006
"Fuckin awesome tunes!" - Music Opens Doors Agency
"I dig your sound alright... You've filled me with desire. I
know what I like when I like it, and I can tell yours will be a
band I will strive to keep an eye on... awesome. Its bands like
you that make me consider doing an exchange to England." -
Luce B, 8fm/ Victoria Broadcasting Channel/ Radio Active fm (playlisted
artist,) New Zealand
"You guys are great! We'll sing your praises!" - Black
Cottage Records
“Well crafted music which contains all manner of surprises.”
- Enfield Independent
“Great,” - John Rose, UIC Radio, Chicago
“We’re really liking this,” - TPN Rock, featured artist
"Phenomenal" - Racket Magazine
"Serious music that deserves to be heard" - Tunatheday
"Great, phenomenal tracks ,very intense." - Radio La
Sociedad Secreta FM
"Melodious and intense. The fruits of the energy contained
throughout the songs are at times liberating." - Y Sin
Embargo Magazine
LIVE: - “They call it Urban Desert, we just call it
beautiful. The Playing Fields wooed us over with their
instrumental lament breakdowns, poetic musings strung out across
delicate violin lines and hung off gently strummed hooks, they
wove their audio magic like a soothing spell.” - Blowback
Magazine
"Even more brilliant than on their debut album... tight,
edgy, definitly worth seeing." - Rock Beat Stone
The
germination of the band starts with Stephen Bland from Enfield,
North London. As a teenager, he organized and performed with
several group incarnations in Canterbury, while serving time at
the university, booking bands and promoting clubs. After many
false starts, Steve formed a band with brother, Michael Bland,
and childhood friend to both, Jeff Baskett. They forged a unique
sound, dark, intense pieces fixed with beautifully melodious
song-writing. Mike took the lead vocals, Steve harmonies, both
brothers duelling on guitar while Jeff played bass, sorted
computer samples, and ate sugary plastic on the side.