The Crayon Fields play intricate, atmospheric pop music recalling the minor key majesty and close-knit harmonies of 60s maestros the Zombies, the Byrds and the Beach Boys. After forming in the last year of high school in 2002 and releasing two independent EPs, Chapter Music released the Crayon Fields’ unruffled, dreamy pop debut Animal Bells in 2006.
With band leader Geoff O’Connor’s gently sly vocals and ringing 12 string guitar ably accompanied by Brett Hudson’s loping bass, Chris Hung on second guitar and Neil Erenstrom on drums, Animal Bells received lavish praise around the world, including a 7.8 review on Pitchfork and a second place spot in Australian taste-making website Mess+Noise’s end of year polls.
Animal Bells also helped the Crayon Fields score support slots for many a touring national and international band, including Stereolab, the New Pornographers, Built To Spill, the Unicorns, Dirty Three, Electrelane, Deerhoof, Calvin Johnson, Kelly Stoltz and many more.
Recording began last year on a followup album, preceded by self-released vinyl seven inch single Mirror Ball. This lead to a seven inch deal with UK imprint The Passport Label, who released Voice Of Paradise in April 2009. To support the release, the band took off on a UK and European tour earlier this year, reaching as far as Latvia and Estonia, as well as a sold out show with Casiotone For The Painfully Alone in London.
But in hindsight, this all seems just like a leadup to second album All The Pleasures Of The World. A stunning development on Animal Bells, Crayon Fields have expanded their sound with lush hi-fidelity production, hypnotic arrangements, and a newfound sexual maturity. It’s an album currently reaching its way around the world, earning another great Pitchfork review and innumerable blog raves, as well as a release by hip Japanese label Rallye, home to the likes of Au Revoir Simone and The Whitest Boy Alive.
