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After hearing just the recent single, “Measures”, I knew that a full album from Boulder Fields was something that I needed to hear. I’m a sucker for a good song. It’s not necessarily a big, clever, ornate, anthemic or obvious song; in fact, the less of that sort of thing, the better. But songs that work, that are well-written, perfectly balanced, about something, songs destined to live in the memory rather than the charts (though, of course, it is excellent for the artist if they can do both, though that has to be a happy bonus rather than a raison d’etre).
Boulder Fields, a band built around Cam Fraser’s songs, ticks all these boxes. With All The Other Ghosts, the band’s debut album is full of spacious arrangements and understatements, perfect poise, deftness, and delicacy. That is the sign of someone who knows they have good songs and doesn’t want to hide them with sonic tricks and gimmicks. Why paint with daubs of musical hues when a single sonic line will do?
Sitting somewhere between the solo troubadour and the band sound, we get eleven songs that are both personal and relatable, understated but full of brilliant sonic touches. They run from the more direct, indie-folk-pop of Strings to the more elevated sonics of “Wipe Out The Stars” and from the infectious groove of “Can’t Even Say” to the more considered sound of “Horse In A Sling”.
As debut albums go, you can’t fault it. As a mission statement and initial calling card, on the strength of With All The Other Ghosts, I will follow this band wherever they go. And given Cam Fraser’s punk past, that could be anywhere, I guess.
With All The Other Ghosts album
Wipe Out the Stars
Wipe Out The Stars
Measures video
