Bristol-based UK electronica outfit NEON FIELDS impressed us with the alt-rock hauntology of their eponymous debut full-length in 2022. Yeah, it’s been a while, but on the band’s behalf it needs to be said that they haven’t been sitting on their thumbs all this time; having joined their mailing list, I must admit to having received dozens of newsletters from the band since then, but… Well, y’know, it’s the same ol’ story: I’ve been too busy with everything to really pay proper attention to all of their later shenanigans. Somewhere along the way, they released a live album that turned out to be a pretty convincing demonstration of their live energy, now that I recall giving it a spin at some point. Just the other day, I got another newsletter from the band, announcing a new song going by the title, “Stop the Tape.” Sure, I was busy with something else, busy like a Cheshire cat burying shit on concrete, to be honest. Nonetheless, I decided it was high time to check these rogues out after such a long while – and it was well fucking worth it. As per the band’s own description of the song, it drops you in the middle of a dimly lit interrogation room, where persuasion gradually gives way to intimidation. So, I reckon, the lyrics depict a “Good Cop – Bad Cop” type of situation, but NEON FIELDS approach this theme with a substantially more haunting grip on your heart and soul than, say, EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL did on their magnificent “Walking Wounded” album, back in 1996. Yeah, the world has grown way more sinister and bleak in 30 years, so it’s no wonder NEON FIELDS‘ take on the matter is way more sinister – delicious, yes, but still pretty damn dark. I’d say, if David Fincher ever decided to do a modernized remake of his 1995 masterpiece Seven, this song ought to be on the soundtrack. It has the perfect shade of rain-soaked darkness about it, just like the movie. As it happens, the band also released a new EP, under the title “Dream As One,” shortly before this banging single at the beginning of September. I guess I’m gonna hafta check it out, pronto, as well. If I did my homework properly, it seems that the band has not released a full-length since that 2022 endeavor. Their songwriting quill seems to be in a pretty damn sharp condition, so if there’s one thing I would like to address in my letter to Santa this year, it’s the new NEON FIELDS full-length, if not this year, then in 2027, at the latest!
Written by Jani Lehtinen
