Emerging alternative project 23 Fields arrive with The Vacant Stars Of Wandering Souls, a record that feels less like a collection of songs and more like a carefully charted night journey. Across eleven tracks, the album explores isolation, nostalgia, connection, and the subtle ache of existing in a world that can feel vast and impersonal. Yet rather than sinking into despair, the record carries warmth in its grooves and clarity in its intention. It is cinematic without being grandiose, intimate without feeling insular. Inspired by what the artist describes as “the sense of drifting many people feel today,” the album leans into that uncertainty and transforms it into reflection. From its first moments, it becomes clear this is a body of work meant to be experienced in sequence—each track building toward a larger emotional constellation.
The album opens with “Afrika Nitarudi,” a welcoming yet contemplative introduction that establishes both rhythm and atmosphere. Its sound is generous—warm, open, and inviting. The groove carries a subtle nod toward Lionel Richie in its fluidity and emotional accessibility, but it never feels derivative. Instead, it sets the tone for a record rooted in movement and melody. The following track, “The Mary Stanford (Eternal Father Strong To Save),” expands the scope dramatically. Orchestral elements begin to surface here, recalling the golden glow of classic cinematic adventures. The arrangement swells with purpose, evoking a sense of pilgrimage and devotion. The layering feels mature and deliberate, revealing a production style that values space and dynamic contrast as much as melody itself.
“Where Did We Go So Wrong?” shifts the focus inward. Here, reflection sharpens into questioning. The vocals take on a measured drama, and there’s a theatrical quality that evokes David Bowie in emotional boldness and phrasing. The grain in the singer’s voice adds texture and humanity, as if each lyric has lived experience behind it. This sense of lived memory deepens in “Sidelines,” where distance replaces celebration. The instrumentation pulls back slightly, allowing atmosphere to take centre stage. The phrasing bends around the rhythm rather than locking rigidly into it, creating the sensation of suspended time. Nostalgia colours the melody like rain over an English countryside—an image that seems to echo throughout the album’s emotional geography.
By the time “Lost Evening” arrives, the late-night journey aesthetic is fully realised. The track hums with understated momentum, built on hypnotic pulses that keep it moving even as the mood leans toward introspection. It’s here that the album’s production truly shines. Subtle accents, carefully placed harmonies, and textural layers reveal themselves gradually, rewarding attentive listening. “Shotgun Bring Me Down” shifts the scenery entirely. Suddenly, the rhythm feels like outlaws racing through desert dust—urgent, propulsive, yet controlled. The syncopation hits with force, but the arrangement maintains refinement. Tension and elegance coexist, giving the track an edge without sacrificing cohesion.
“Trace Her Sun” carries a shimmering sense of pursuit, its melodic lines stretching outward like light breaking across a horizon. There’s something quietly hopeful embedded within it, even if the lyrics retain a reflective undertone. That hope finds fuller expression in “You’re Alright,” one of the album’s most emotionally direct moments. The edges soften here. The melody reaches gently toward reassurance, and once again the vocal proves capable of drawing the listener inward. The arrangement supports rather than overwhelms, emphasizing the record’s core strength: storytelling that breathes naturally within its sonic frame.
“Pavement Cracks” continues the theme of grounded reflection. There’s a tactile quality to this track, as if the listener can feel the textures of city streets beneath their feet. The instrumentation feels earthy, perhaps subtly folk-rooted, but always refined. “Sioux” then broadens the palette again, leaning into mood and atmosphere. It carries a quiet grandeur, hinting at myth and memory while maintaining the album’s cohesive sonic identity. The production remains spacious, allowing each instrumental layer to speak clearly without clutter.
Finally, “With Your Stars” closes the circle with a sense of retrospection and forward motion. An ’80s-flavored rhythm section subtly emerges, carried by a beautiful bass interplay that gives movement and elegance. There’s warmth here—an echo of everything that came before—but also clarity. The farewell resonates like the last stretch of a long drive, when the sky begins to lighten, and reflection turns into understanding. Folk influences remain visible, yet 23 Fields shape them into something unmistakably their own.
Throughout The Vacant Stars Of Wandering Souls, identity stands at the centre. Transitions matter. Dynamics matter. Atmosphere is treated not as decoration, but as narrative architecture. The album succeeds because every production choice serves emotional direction. Orchestral touches elevate certain passages, while rhythmic grooves keep others grounded and accessible. It’s this balance—between cinematic sweep and human-scale storytelling—that gives the record its lasting impact. In the end, 23 Fields provides a space where wandering souls can momentarily feel anchored. And long after the final notes fade, the album’s constellations continue to glow quietly in memory.
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