by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Panda is the new album from Oslo’s Simon Field, whose nine tracks look towards classic Chicago house for their inspiration while keeping a close eye on the underground scene in the Norwegian capital.

Deep, tech vocal house is the name of the game for Field, who has a number of key releases in his locker for labels such as Armada, Universal Music, Sony Music Ultra, Perfect Havoc and his own Basement Records, which he established to focus on underground house music with no need for commercial gain. Basement Sessions is a club series in Oslo, celebrating the underground sound.

Guests include Delphi Drive and Blichfedlt.

What’s the music like?

Simon Field has a persuasive way of blending deeper textures and bass with upfront four to the floor beats, making some very danceable grooves in the process. A little goes a long way in his music, supported by fulsome kick drums and subtly funky bass loops, as in One More Time (For The Panda).

The album takes off with PanAm, its raucous spoken word intro complemented with a cool riff, while by contrast F With The Energy is deep and dark, laced with sharp edges. Here With Me taps into those same qualities, with a cool vocal, as does the warm weather winner Not Even A DJ. Meanwhile Gone Gone Gone gets more upfront movement from its excellent riff.

The guests work well, Blichfeldlt panning across the stereo picture during Michael Caine, and Just Martina capitalising on Field’s rolling beats.

Does it all work?

Pretty much – Field’s dancefloor methods are effective throughout.

Is it recommended?

Yes – no padding here! Simon Field’s album is ripe for the deeper house music dancefloor.

For fans of… Luke Solomon, Heller & Farley, Camelphat, Mark Knight

Listen & Buy

For more information on the album and to explore purchase options, visit Simon Field’s website

Published post no.2,299 – Thursday 12 September 2024