In what is possibly the most noteworthy
instance of a musician exploiting the percussive potential of
barnyard animals, this latest single from Melbourne-based troubadour
Georgia Fields features, in addition to crisp piano lines and a
hauntingly ephemeral chorus, the odd well-timed oink, quack and moo
of a child’s squeaky toy. The conceit is simultaneously the perfect
introduction to a timeless paean, a deceptive and wilful infusion of
innocence into what is in actuality a ballad steeped in longing, and
a reminder that with everything Georgia Fields does comes an element
of uniqueness.
Fields has been steadily garnering
plaudits these past three years or so, building up a solid following
largely on the strength of her renowned live shows, which are more
often than not accompanied by her 12-piece ‘Mini-Indie-Orchestra.’
Thankfully this lush musicality translates surprisingly effectively
to the recording studio, and each of the three tracks on offer here
are accomplished, lovingly honed and quietly resplendent. Fields
appears more than comfortable with her not inconsiderable talents
and frequently imbues her songs with the freedom to meander across
genre lines, usually with results that border on the sublime.
Both B-sides fit comfortably alongside
Something Borrowed, and neither feels like anything
approaching a hastily cobbled cast-off. In fact, just quietly, I
think they might even be superior. The finely crafted Sinking
Relation Ship is a lilting, lyrical acoustic shanty that
strongly recalls The Decemberists and combines subversive symbolism
(‘My parachute’s made of bricks and mortar’) with cleverly varied
percussion and the gentle tinkling of a glockenspiel. Meanwhile
Happy Accidents wraps things up in a string-soaked and
beautifully pensive fashion, and as Fields croons the song’s final
line she manages to sound both vulnerable and subtly challenging: ‘I
dare you to believe we’re more than happy accidents.’
More triplet of worthies than a lead
track backed with afterthoughts, this enticing, whimsical and
eminently listenable release heralds great things for this
thoroughly accomplished up-and-comer.
