A Fungus – Field Relief | soundsfromthedarkside

The first fungus of the autumnal season arrived in the form of the sophomore record of A Fungus.

Conceptually, the 2022 debut It Already Does That from Amsterdam’s A Fungus stood like a brick house. Their latest album, however, Field Relief, steps boldly in a new, more daring direction. The youthful anxiety of their first work is now exchanged for patience and depth, rewarding listeners who are willing to dive in and stay awhile.

On Field Relief, every song feels unpredictable. The band blends post-rock and math rock with flashes of minimalism, and just when you think you’ve pinned down their sound, it floats away again. The album begins with Intro, which builds tension and sparks curiosity from the outset, before launching into the electronic energy of 3 x 3. Throughout, guitar lines weave through complex tempos, and melodies twist in unexpected directions, revealing the band’s evolved ambition compared to their debut.

A Fungus strikes a balance between precise musicianship and wild bursts of freedom. Sometimes the music creeps in quietly and slowly burns before erupting, as it does on Farmsum, while tracks like Skipping flicker out just as suddenly. Rather than polishing every edge, A Fungus embraces imperfection, just like bands as Still House Plants and Caroline. The result is music that feels handmade and authentic but also almost always lands with an accessible punch.

The band also finds space for brighter indie flavours from the Netherlands, with tracks like Feeder and All The Names recalling echoes of Racoon or Alamo Race Track. Yet, at its core, A Fungus remains true to its own ideas. Even in instrumental moments, as with Boat Find and Group Remembering, the music sounds spontaneous, as if the band is discovering the tune alongside the listener.

With Field Relief, A Fungus has carved out something real and entirely their own. They experiment without fuss or grandstanding—something rare and special these days. For anyone interested in inventive, highly listenable music, Field Relief is well worth a listen.