Up All Night is the debut album from Canadian indie pop band The Airfields. It's the follow up to 2006's Laneways EP, a release I shamefully omitted to review and last years limited edition CD on Cloudberry. In fact all three of the tracks on the latter are included here!I normally bang on at length about the album I am reviewing but I am going to keep this review simple as there isn't much to say suffice this is the best album I have heard this year out of all those sent to indie mp3 to review.
I am sure I am about to repeat what every other review has been saying but Up All Night is jangle pop reminiscent of early classic Creation sound as well as being heavily influenced by bands on the roster of Sarah Records. There is also a hint of shoegaze thrown in for good measure. In fact it's not too far off from The Electric Pop Group's début back in 2006 in terms of how it sounds and the overall wow factor effect it has on you.
From the Strawberry Wine era My Bloody Valentine-esq Never See You Smile or Yr So Wonderful to the echoes of the Field Mice on Quiet Nights or Icing Sugar the band's superbly crafted and effortless songs just take off (pun intended!) into your conciousness. I will be surprised if Up All Night isn't on most peoples top 10 lists come the end of the year. Told you I would keep it simple!
The Airfields - Yr So Wonderful
Up All Night is out now on Humblebee Recordings. You can stream the songs here.
An interview with the band can be found on Skatterbrain.
[My Space link]
Yes! Album of the year so far. I don't know how it could be topped. I so wish they'd tour, too! *sigh*
- string bean jen