Elysian Fields

Formed in the mid-1990s in New York, Elysian Fields brings together singer and lyricist Jennifer Charles and guitarist Oren Bloedow around a slow, atmospheric rock sound informed by jazz, chamber pop and nocturnal, cabaret-like songs. The duo is often augmented on stage by a rhythm section and keyboards, and builds a world marked by Charles’s hushed voice, minimalist guitars and discreet arrangements that leave ample space for the lyrics. After their debut Bleed Your Cedar (1996) came Queen of the Meadow (2000) and Dreams That Breathe Your Name (2004); their steady discography also includes The Afterlife (2009), For House Cats And Sea Fans (2014), Pink Air (2018) and Transience of Life (2020), the latter inspired by classical Chinese texts. Emerging from Manhattan’s indie scene and connected to New York’s experimental milieu, the band has over the years crossed paths with jazz musicians, projects around John Zorn and alternative rock outfits, while favouring a slow, intimate, melodic songwriting approach between darker dream pop, chamber rock and blues-tinged ballads.