George Fields - From The Sticks FLAC download

George Fields, to many an unknown entity, is a young producer from Dorset UK who is setting an extremely high standard with his work. This 10 track instrumental project is a labour of love that any discerning listener will be keeping close to hand (ear) for years to come. Clearly a producer with a love for vinyl, the sample choices, drum programming and quality of mixing and mastering is undeniable and comparable to any contemporary 'big studio' release.The mood of the record remains largely the same – a soundscape set in 90s New York - laid back mid tempo jazzy grooves with crisp boombap drums, reminiscent of the great Lewis Parker. However Mr Fields has his own sound which reveals itself through his use of horns, vibraphones, (amongst others sounds put through the MPC60) with familiar but not blatant samples to great an overall ambiance for each track.This ambiance brings the tracks together as a whole very nicely, making the record a satisfying listen from beginning to end. Much consideration was also taken with the packaging of the vinyl release, a limited hand-numbered pressing of 300, and a collector's item amongst supporters of real Hip Hop worldwide.

Every once in a while great music seems to spring up out of nowhere, each time dislodging the notion that hiphop music `belongs’ in the metropolis. Such notions are strange given that hiphop (although emerging from the urban landscape) always seems to thrive in the peripheral zones of society.On this rock of ours you can’t get much more peripheral than Dorset which is home to the aptly named producer George Fields. His debut release, From The Sticks, stands as testament to the fact that hiphop never `belonged’ in a particular place and the rich textures throughout the release illustrate hiphops journey from the city to the sticks.Ten tracks deep, comprised entirely of instrumentals and limited to 300 hand numbered vinyl pressings, From The Sticks has kicked up quite a fuss. After springing up seemingly from nowhere, George managed to shift all 300 pressings within a matter of weeks. So what`s all the fuss about? The release is riddled with heavy drums and echoing horn stabs which lay foundations very much reminiscent of that golden era sound many of us still love. However, what makes the release stand out and what makes it so fresh, is George`s use of warm textures, deep low-pass bass-lines and obscure synth samples.The overall warmth of the release can in part be attributed to George`s use of vintage equipment (the entire LP was made using an MPC 60 and Ensoniq EPS 16+) and the great care taken in mixing and mastering. Add to this the skill, time and pure creativity put into the project and the result is undoubtedly a masterpiece. From The Sticks plays best from start to finish but a few tracks really stand out. The opener `Autumn in Lyme’ beginning with an intro of futuristic synth sounds quickly kicks into action with the arrival of pounding boombap drums and echoing horn stabs. The track really sets the tone for the rest of the release by building on multiple layers of sound to create a textured and evocative vibe. `Sunsets’ boasts a soaring and dramatic string sample along with solid drums and the ubiquitous horn stabs. Subtle vocal sounds only add to the depth of this track which is probably the most aggressive of the release. With things poised for a dramatic finish Fields doesn’t disappoint, the penultimate track `Late Night Drive pt1’ is exactly that….a late night drive of obscure sounds, skull shattering snares and hypnotic energy.All this goes some way to explaining the attention Fields has been getting for From The Sticks. Although the release will be most appealing to fans of the east coast sound of the early to mid-90s a distinctively progressive vibe is present throughout. George Fields is certainly one to look out for and From The Sticks is not only an extremely solid debut but a reminder that hiphop is alive and well, even in the most unexpected places.By Matt Smith @MrVillageLive