By Dom Eagle
There is absolutely no doubt that Brian Field offers a breathtaking musical experience on his latest album Vocal Works. I’ve never listened to an orchestral album before, and I always welcome the opportunity to delve into a genre that’s a little out of the norm for me. I have to say that I found it a serene, cathartic experience to listen to this album. The vocal work is absolutely spectacular, as is the instrumental work. I’m sure there are many people to applaud for the truly hypnotic musical performances on this record, as the vocal harmonies and instrumentals are utterly sublime, but Brian Field deserves a tremendous amount of praise for his intricate compositional work on this brilliant release.
“By and By” is a colorful and heartfelt choral journey. The overlapping vocals of numerous talented singers, each offering their own heavenly timber, create a canvas of sound that elevates the listener to another plane of existence. It’s ethereal and intimate. I feel a sense of calmness that is often hard to attain in today’s chaotic world. That speaks volumes of music’s power to completely change one’s mood and perspective, simply by latching onto the right frequencies at the right moments. And Brian Field certainly manages that in this opening track. It’s a wonderful introduction to his musical capabilities, and one that leaves me eager to see what he’ll do next.
I’m not disappointed with “ Canciones de Amor (Version for Tenor & Orchestra): No. 1, Plena Mujer, Manzana Carnal,” which is driven by one of the most beautiful string arrangements I’ve ever heard. The swelling sounds, which rise and fall with such grace and ease, leave me with a feeling of such indescribable warmth. The vocal work is truly stunning. Such a magnetic voice. To be able to stand out above such a beautiful cacophony of sound is a feat in itself, but to do so with a voice that’s just so breathtakingly beautiful just adds a cherry on top of a wonderful performance. Yet again, transfixing work from the superb Brian Field. And the following two versions provide intriguing takes on the original, as well. The second version, in particular, has a haunting dissonance to it that I find particularly mesmerizing. The third version certainly leans more on the emotional side of things, but all three have unique and individual charms that make them stand out in their own rights.
“Let’s Build A Wall! (An American Satire)” might offer very humorous lyrics with a vibe that would be befitting, perhaps, of an Andrew-Lloyd Webber musical, but it certainly doesn’t discard any of the complexities and beautiful nuance present in Field’s earlier songs on the album. It opens with a heart-breaking string arrangement that has been beautifully composed by Field and beautifully played by the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra. If it takes sheer beauty like this for a satirical, yet poignant, message to permeate the figurative brick wall of American politics, then I think Brian Field has hit the nail on the head.
There are so many beautiful moments on this album that I feel I would surely miss something, even if I were to pour over every minute detail that I loved about every single song. I should definitely add that I loved the many different versions of “Chimney” on the record. The first version, in particular, offered menacing piano work that both haunted and absolutely astounded me. All in all, this is fantastic piece of art. Brian Field is a phenomenal composer.
