Words by Christine Loughran
The guys in Gold Fields may be far from their native hometown of Ballarat, Australia, but their rock-pop quintet is quickly earning its keep in the states with the high-energy jams and tribal beats of its debut album, Black Sun, that make it virtually impossible to stand still during a set.
This was particularly evident at a recent show the band performed at New York’s Irving Plaza on tour with the indie rock duo, Capital Cities. During a sampling of tunes that included “Dark Again,” and “Moves,” Gold Fields had the whole floor on its feet, singing along to catchy choruses it had only learned a few minutes earlier with such enthusiasm it was easy to forget they weren’t the headlining act.
Let’s put it this way: you could practically feel sparks flying off the instruments and through the microphones of vocalists Mark Robert Fuller and Vin Andanar.
“We’re pumped to see people singing along,” said drummer Ryan D’Sylva of the gig. “We haven’t had that in New York yet, so it’s awesome to see the sound gradually growing.”
With the contrasting textures, moods and melodies that outfit Black Sun, it’s easy to see why. The record blends the sounds of two drum kits, keyboard, percussion, synthesizer, and even a tambourine, making the listener feel as if they’re on a ride with Gold Fields that’s painted with different colors, shapes and views they have never experienced before. The slow build-up to booming choruses on “Treehouse” and “Moves” give the tracks a little kick as well. Overall, it’s kind of impossible to stay in a bad mood after listening to these guys.
By the looks of it, Gold Fields can get used to their newfound fame. Not only did the group kick off the MTV “Artist to Watch” campaign, they were also recently nominated for an mtvU Woodie in the Breaking Woodie [Best Emerging Act] category. Fans can listen to the full album on MTV’s website.
But the success didn’t happen overnight. Black Sun was written in a small Aussie garage in the band’s hometown, where the group was able to focus on making the best possible record they could after two previous attempts to record in a studio.
“I would drive two minutes down from my house to our makeshift studio and it would just be the five of us,” bassist Luke Peldys said of Black Sun’s creation. “We were able to just take our time.”
For fans of Cut Copy, Bloc Party, or any type of fun 80s-esque dance jams with a synth backdrop, really, Gold Fields is definitely worth a listen. Just be prepared: after hearing the already-released single, “Dark Again,” the chorus will stay in your head for days.
www.goldfieldsmusic.com
TheWaster.com | New York City
05.12.13
