Good Field

The lineage of Good Field's mellow shoegaze distinctly traces back through principal Paul Price's former bands, with hints of indie pop darlings Voxtrot's melodic crispness and Brazos' atmospheric wash. Add to that the swooning, languid vocals that at times recall NYC's Walkmen, especially on the opening title track and "Telecommunication," and the local quartet's sophomore LP hearkens their blog-rock roots of a decade ago. Yet Price also advances beyond that sound, with notable mixing touches from White Denim's James Petralli keeping the songs provocative even as they dive deeper into a hazy melancholic eddy of swirling and sinking textures. Back-to-back, "Control" and "Hospital Bed" set the theme of emotional and physical stasis, the former's dark touches and latter's wanting moan wrapped in a sense of being trapped and powerless. "Wait" drops the chiming guitars into a slow crawl, almost Cohen-esque in its depression. Through the longing of "At the Airport," Future Me closes in the throes of a demanding need for escape and connection with the driving "Do It."