The Radio Field is now transmitting at full strength

By Henry Lipput

Back in late 2020 during the second pandemic lockdown in Germany, Lars Schmidt of the band Subertuge began a home recording project that would become The Radio Field. With a little help from his friend Josephine De Mogan on backing vocals and his son Gustav – before his voice changed – adding some high notes, Schmidt had 2022’s The Simple EP (Subjangle). In my review I called the EP a mix of half joyful jangle and half melancholy melodies.

The response for the EP was extremely positive and several of Schmidt’s friends asked if they could become members of a Radio Field band. The result is an all-star lineup that in addition to Schmidt includes Mark Specht (drums and a founding member of Subterfuge), Christoph Scheider (bass and a former member of Klee, Clayton Farlow, Soap, and Soccer), and Philipp Breuer (lead guitar and Pale fame).

The Radio Field’s new single, “The Version feat. Robert Stadlober” (Bandcamp) has actor Stadlober on backing vocals as well as Max von Einem on trombone and trumpet. It’s a horn-driven burst of summer sunshine with the new band sounding as if they’ve been playing together for years.

The Radio Field’s first full-length album Don’ts and Dos will be released on August 25^th on Subjangle/Less Records.

Here's the video for "The Version":

Catch the signal The Radio Field is sending

 By Henry Lipput

The Radio Field is the latest project from Lars Schmidt of Subterfuge and “Clover” is the taster single from Simple, a 4-song EP out this Friday (September 30^th) on the Subjangle label.

What does a musician do when he lives in a country that’s experiencing its second lockdown at the end of 2020? Schmidt has said it only takes enough boredom and a musical instrument to create something good. So with the shops closed, he mail ordered a Rickenbacker 12-string and in a couple of days three songs were written. And later, when it was possible, he went to the studio with some friends to record the guitar, drums, and backing vocals.

The result of Schmidt’s back-to-the-roots bedroom band’s efforts is the Simple EP with half of it the joyful jangle of “Clover” and “Years Ago” and another half the melancholy melodies of “The Wait” and “Congratulations” (a cover of a song from Strange Magic, a one-man band from New Mexico).

A word to the wise: Subjangle only manufactures about 125 CDs of any given release and these have been known to sell out within 48 hours (some have already been sold through a pre-order campaign.)  

The Pure Pop 4 Now People Singles Club

 By Henry Lipput

It seems that this format for my blog will be in effect for the time being. I know that I''ve been out of action here for more than a month but I've had brain fog/writer's block/fully-vacinatted-but-still-scared-of-COVID funk. I've seen my primary care doctor and in the coming weeks I will be seeing my therapist and an allergy specialist/immunologist so maybe someone can help me figure this out. 

I'm still really enjoying music but have only been able to come up with Tweet-like descriptions and I understand that a review would need another 300 words or so. So it's short bursts of words for new singles. Here's volune one of the singles club.

Just one more thing: Singles are a great way to get introduced to new music and an inexpensive way to support indie music. Which is pretty much what this blog is all about so I've included links to where you can buy a download.

PETER HALL

"Two Twenty Two" (Bandcamp) is an absolutely gorgeous song about falling in love to a new band and their new song and just falling in love in general.

SUBTERFUGE

"Stephanie Says," (Bandcamp) the band's first recording for more than a few years, is a wonderful Country-tinged tune.

THE BOO RADLEYS

The Boo Radley's last album, 1998's Kingsize, was one of my favorites of their albums and also one of my favorite albums of all time (wish I had it on vinyl!). So it was surprising that a few weeks ago, out of the blue, they released a new song, "A Full Syringe And Memories Of You," (digital vendors) with most of the original lineup. Great to hear Sice again!