Elysian Fields
Sultry, late-night noir rock that feels like a whispered secret. Smoky vocals and jazz-inflected guitars for dim rooms and deep moods.
Sultry, late-night noir rock that feels like a whispered secret. Smoky vocals and jazz-inflected guitars for dim rooms and deep moods.
Elysian Fields inhabit the space where rock, jazz, and cabaret bleed into one another under the cover of darkness. Their sound is defined by Jennifer Charles's breathy, intimate vocals, which often feel like they are being whispered directly into your ear. The music is slow, deliberate, and deeply sensual, anchored by Oren Bloedow's filmic guitar work that favors mood and texture over traditional rock structures.
What makes them distinctive is their commitment to a 'noir' aesthetic that never feels like a gimmick. They use acoustic instruments and subtle electronics to create a world that feels both timeless and distinctly rooted in the underground art scene of New York. It is music that prioritizes the 'vibe' of a smoky 1940s jazz club but filters it through the lens of 90s alternative grit and avant-garde curiosity.
For those new to their catalog, 'Bleed Your Cedar' is the essential starting point. It captures the band at their most hauntingly melodic, offering a perfect introduction to their brand of romantic gloom. If you find yourself drawn to the more experimental and jazz-leaning side of their work, 'Dreams That Breathe Your Name' offers a deeper, more atmospheric dive into their unique sonic waters.
Elysian Fields is an American band based in Brooklyn, New York, founded in 1995 by the co-composers Jennifer Charles (vocals, instruments) and Oren Bloedow (guitar). Their music has sometimes been described as "noir rock", due to its sultry, dark and mysterious inflections, be it sonically or lyrically. The band uses mainly acoustic instruments, predominantly guitar, piano, bass and drums, with the occasional appearance of eastern instruments, classical strings, and subtle electronics, the focal point being the voice of Charles in the forefront. Based in New York City, Elysian Fields have found underground success in the United States but are more popular in Europe. The author of The Dark Stuff, Nick Kent, says of their music, "Maybe we have their out-of-the-mainstreamness to thank for a sound that is still unique -- as sensual as a sleepwalker's wet dream." Since its formation, the band has won quite a devoted cult following, largely by word of mouth. Besides its well-received albums, the band is also noted for its strong live performances. The rest of the band has included many of New York's strongest players: all the members of Jeff Buckley's band, members of Medeski Martin and Wood, Ed Pastorini, Ben Perowsky, James Genus, Thomas Bartlett, Jamie Saft and members of Ollabelle have all played in Elysian Fields at various times.
Shares urban night, candlelit, late night (atmosphere); mysterious, brooding, wistful (moods)
Shares mysterious, romantic, brooding (moods); urban night, candlelit, late night (atmosphere)
Shares mysterious, brooding, wistful (moods); art rock, dream pop (subgenres)
Shares mysterious, romantic, brooding (moods); analog warmth, reverb heavy (production style)
Shares mysterious, romantic, brooding (moods); urban night, candlelit, late night (atmosphere)
Shares art rock, dream pop, slowcore (subgenres); mysterious, brooding, wistful (moods)
Shares analog warmth, dry intimate, reverb heavy (production style); brooding, mysterious, wistful (moods)
Shares dream pop, breathy, whispered, dive bar (subgenre)
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