The Radio Field
Air and Sunlight

janglepop / jangle / jangle pop / indie pop

Two years after their debut album, Don'ts and Dos, flirted with what one might expect jangle heaven to sound like, Dusseldorf-based The Radio Field returns with an Air and Sunlight follow-up that provides a perfect contrast between the clearest jangle-pop waters and their seemingly innate ability to perfectly muddy those waters without sacrificing the inherent beauty of their sound.

This act’s knack for discovering crystalline jangled riffs remains abundant in this release. The opener, "It's Alright," sets the template for the rest of the album, featuring lucid jangled riffs that seem to tumble over one another in a quest for dominance.

The album's crystalline side features a resplendent chime that will resonate with fans of Stephen's Shore. The slow-burning track "Of Dragons and Souls" stands as the album's only nod to melancholy, while "What It Takes" showcases a gloriously relentless jangly indie rock sound reminiscent of Ducks Ltd. Meanwhile, "Ride With Me" and "Sun Dial" explore the jangly edges of alt-country and Americana.

While such stunning jangle-pop purity may always be what draws listeners to The Radio Field, Air and Sunlight seamlessly drifts their sound into uncharted waters that all the great acts consistently explore. Consequently, "Apogee" and "Same" captivate with a production that feels honeymoon-burnished or subdued rather than truly lo-fi, providing the perfect foundation for the haunting, Nico-inflected vocals of "Hey You."

Air and Sunlight is an album that solidifies The Radio Field's potential as one of the finest jangle-pop acts of the early 2020s.