These New Puritans – Field Of Reeds (2xLP)

Field of Reeds by These New Puritans is a breathtaking transformation—an immersive and ambitious album where post-punk roots dissolve into a sweeping neoclassical and art-rock landscape. The record unfolds with haunting orchestral arrangements, ethereal vocals, and rich, atmospheric textures that seem to draw the mist and marshes of Essex into sound. It’s dense yet delicate, mysterious yet deeply affecting, marking a courageous reinvention that unveils the band's boldest, most emotionally articulate work to date.

Every track is a carefully sculpted soundscape: from the ghostly rendition of “This Guy’s in Love With You” to the hypnotic swell of “V (Island Song)” and the minimalist grace of “Organ Eternal,” the album moves like a living, breathing organism. It’s a work of profound artistry, demanding patience and rewarding listeners with layers of nuance, emotion, and imagination. This is music that rewards immersion—quiet, expansive, and strikingly beautiful.

Reviews

“It sees the Southend group all but shed any associations they once had with the wider rock world, reinventing themselves as a neo-classical ensemble. The result is an uncompromisingly self-possessed record whose intimate qualities shouldn’t be mistaken for an easy listen … its clearest analog is Talk Talk’s Spirit of Eden.” – Pitchfork

“Filled with eerie lulls and sudden, discombobulating rushes of noise … Despite the fog, though, Field Of Reeds’ finer moments border on being stupendously iridescent.” – NME

“The juxtaposition of the two suggests to me a place unsettled and undefined, mysterious and strange … Field Of Reeds should be celebrated for what it is, an exploration of a British hinterland, both geographical and artistic.” – The Quietus

“There are no simple entry points – it demands engagement, and to be taken as a whole … Give yourself over to what’s not only a 21st-century masterpiece, but also something timeless that will resonate whenever you find it.” – Record Collector