It starts so gently; tuning up and tuning in to each other, the three musicians — two seated and one standing.
The warm golden glow of lights contrasts with the dark, shadowy stage, fittingly atmospheric at The Garage tonight, adding to the anticipation in the air.
The audience is impressive for any evening; the all-age crowd eager to hear some of the storytelling magic promised. Espionage in the guise of a pseudonym, the main man, Alexander Ellis, is Our Man in the Field. He is a penetrating character study through his music, his harmonies, his narrative. Either side of him tonight are Henry Senior, playing slide guitar (laid flat across his lap), and Maddy on his other side, playing the electric cello and singing like a dream.
...an empathetic harmony, tenderly conveyed and bearing the full weight of integrity on this enchanting evening"
Initially, a veil of uncertainty hung in the air, obscuring the quality of the sound. The question persisted: was it a matter of the mix? Or could it be attributed to the residual echoes of post-traumatic ear stress, a consequence of attending one too many shows? In pursuit of clarity, we embarked on a sonic pilgrimage, retreating to a vantage point near the sound desk.
There, the enigma unraveled before our very ears. And there it was. Ah, yes, the sound revealed itself to be nothing short of a sonic tapestry woven with finely tuned timbres. The notes danced through the air, with each instrument shining in its own right. It was a moment when the sonic heavens had parted, and the ethereal beauty of the music transcended all doubts and uncertainties.
Individual notes, arpeggios, and simple scales become finger-picking; finger-picking becomes strumming, and then the three string instruments are playing together in a glorious sonorous blend. Tonight’s set is an anthology of stories, big and small; a musically introspective feast that manages to be simultaneously pensive, exciting, and soothing.
“Glad to See You” showcases the blend of voices with the undulating notes of the pentatonic blues scale played with such sensitivity on the cello. The voices’ harmonies are echoed in turn by the slide guitar until the three musicians come to a gentle, hesitant finish.
...the vocals mellifluous as the notes weave in and out of their supporting chordal and melodic structure"
“(Thin) I used to be Bullet Proof” has a pianissimo start with Alex singing high and dolce, the cello’s counterpart melody richly low and evenly vibrato’d. A gentle slide guitar picks harmonic notes and echoes hooks and riffs from the other musical parts. The sound is soft, light, and tender, the lyrics poignant as we reflect and agree with Alex’s suggestion of how having children has made him (and us) care and mind so much more. Henry’s slide takes the main melody, soaring over the other instruments and vocals, until the reflective, gradual finish.
“Go Easy” is next, another story behind the dreamy, contemplative lyrics. An unfinished cadence at the end of this song, of understanding, of allowances, of self-love, and gratitude, adds to the pathos sung of something hesitant, suggestive, incomplete.
Our Man in the Field’s new single, out on 9th Feb, “The Road,” is a meditative, rhythmic, and resonant song. It may be no coincidence that Alex has previously spoken of his admiration for Jack Kerouac, and this song certainly has that driving, relational, and intensely musical quality that has us at 1st 3 Magazine humming along in effortless harmony. It is like we already know this music—its familiarity shown so skillfully through the blues scales that we get it—we feel it.
“Smoke in the Wind” begins with Henry playing a perfect slide solo, supported by softly strummed chords on Alex’s guitar. The balance of these musicians’ sound is symmetrical and proportionate, the vocals mellifluous as the notes weave in and out of their supporting chordal and melodic structure.
We can almost hear a harmonica, a banjo perhaps… and feel a warm breeze as we sit comfortably on the porch, gazing out upon a pastel-hued vista of uncomplicated beauty. These tales of humanity, of The Journey, of our Earth, resonate with an empathetic harmony, tenderly conveyed and bearing the full weight of integrity on this enchanting evening.
Gold On The Horizon – Out Now
Our Man In The Field played The Garage, Highbury on Sunday 28th January 2023
