Elysian Fields at the top of their game

Singular Horizons  | Elysian Fields

10 October, 2024, Church Street Studios, Camperdown, NSW

Nestled in the back streets of Camperdown, Church Street Studios is an eccentric old building, housing 21 recording studios and a performance space. It’s a music nerd’s dream, full of quirky knick knacks – lamps made from flutes, a banjo mute (a large hammer), and topped off with bits of old churches, collected from Facebook Marketplace. What better place to house a concert of Australia’s only Electric Viola da Gamba band?!

Jenny Eriksson is the brains behind Elysian Fields. A baroque specialist on the (acoustic) Viola da Gamba by day, and pioneer of Baroque music education around Australia, Jenny formed the band along with Saxophonist Matt Keegan and pianist Matt McMahon ten years ago. Tonight’s performance was the first airing of new songs from their forthcoming album ‘Swirling Flame’, to be released in 2025, and what a treat it was.

Alongside Jenny, Matt K and Matt M, Elysian Fields consists of Susie Bishop on Vocals and Violin, Brett Hirst on Double Bass, and Dave Goodman on the Drums. Their style has been described by critic John Shane as ‘Scandi folk fusion’, and by Matt Keegan as ‘chamber jazz’. Whatever box it falls into, the music is exceptionally executed.

On the program were songs from the forthcoming album, as well as tracks from their 2020 album ‘Fika’, and new pieces by Troy Russell, Jenny Eriksson, Alice Chance, Matt McMahon and Hildigunnur Rúnarsdóttir. Each member of Elysian Fields is at the top of their game, and throughout the evening everyone was given a chance to show the range of expression possible from their instruments.

Susie Bishop has an extraordinary voice, and is fearless in the range of colours and dynamics she achieves – from beautiful, floated high notes in ‘Meditatus’ by Jan Gunnar Hoff, through to playful Swedish folk singing, she has complete control over her voice. Oh, and she also plays the violin exceptionally well. Matt Keegan showcased his skills on tenor and soprano saxophones, as well as an alto clarinet. His subtone playing is particularly impressive, but my favourite moments were when he totally let rip on a solo, particularly in ‘Living’ by Jan Gunnar Hoff. As an aside, this song can be found on Spotify or wherever you get your music, and is well worth listening to.

Matt McMahon is a beautiful pianist. He sat back in the texture for much of the evening, adding notes exactly where they needed to be, and coming out of the texture at just the right times. His piece, titled ‘November’ for when it was written, was masterful as it passed a melody around each member of the band. Jenny Eriksson’s Electric Viola da Gamba is something that needs to be seen to be believed, and the way that she has used it in a contemporary setting is amazing. It adds a mellow colour to the music, and there were elements of the Baroque that came through, particularly notably in the trills in ‘Living’. Jenny’s own piece, ‘Garden Party’ was a fusion of French Baroque and Jazz, a combination that somehow makes perfect sense.

Brett Hirst on double bass was completely rock solid, underpinning every piece with beautiful sensitivity. His bass was mic’d, matching the electric Gamba, and he was a perfect addition to the texture, coming out in some passages to showcase his immense skill. Dave Goodman is such a sensitive drummer, never adding more to the music than was needed, his steadiness providing the bedrock for this excellent band.

There isn’t much more to be said about Elysian Fields, except to urge you to open up your phone and find their recordings immediately!