Our Man In The Field: 'Gold On The Horizon' - new album out 03.11.23 [digital] 24.11.23 [LP & CD] | 'Feel Good' lyric video

Health scares have a habit of changing lives. Almost a decade ago ago, a case of appendicitis sent Alex Ellis aka Our Man In The Field to hospital, where doctors found a tumour that was alarmingly similar to the one that had killed his father a year short of his 50th birthday. A struggling actor at the time, Ellis made it out the other side with renewed purpose. His sporadic forays into songwriting became more consistent, and a new occupation began to take hold when he moved to London.

A friend sent a few of his tunes to Tom Robinson at BBC 6 Music, who debuted them on air. That led to Ellis’ first live shows and his eventual 2020 debut album, 'The Company Of Strangers'. Three years later, he couldn’t be further from London on the brand new 'Gold On The Horizon', which was recorded in Portland, Oregon and produced by Tucker Martine (The National, Modest Mouse, My Morning Jacket, Rosanne Cash). Its sonic topography is rugged and windswept, driven by acoustic guitar, pedal steel and Ellis’ voice, which has resulted in a winning combination of indie-folk and Americana with significant soulful country vibes that nods to the likes of Ray LaMontagne, Damien Rice, Wilco, Ryan Adams and Lambchop.

The album is out digitally today, with a lyric video for its opening song 'Feel Good’ also made available that can be viewed HERE. Ellis reveals that the song “is about an acting agent who had been keen to get me to move from my previous agent and came across as a good guy hungry to build up his company. He was given a desk at a top London agency and began to attract some established actors to his roster.”

Alas, things soon took an ominous turn. “He asked to meet for a coffee, and I had no reason to think anything was wrong. When I arrived, he didn’t hesitate to let me know that he had spent the 10,000 I’d just earned on drugs and prostitutes - and, now that he’d told me, he was following the steps and was going to be alright.” That was the end of the meeting.

“The song came along pretty quickly after I’d developed the opening riff,” he continues. “In the studio, Tucker took what we were doing on the demo and lifted it to a completely new level. The Dimpker Brothers can be heard on the harmonies almost shouting ‘feel good’ at the end of each phrase. The addition of brass in the middle eight reminds me of tunes you might find in an old ’70s cop show - and I love it. When we play ‘Feel Good’ at shows and I tell them about the agent, people ask if I ever got the money. I’m still waiting.”

A launch event for the LP & CD release of ‘Gold On The Horizon' at The Slaughtered Lamb in London takes place on 25th November, with two shows that commence at 6.30pm and 9pm. OMITF will also be touring to promote the album, with other upcoming dates currently as follows:

• 11.11.23 HOLLYCOMBE Hollycombe Home Farm
• 08.12.23 GREAT EASTON Village Hall
• 11.02.24 SHEFFIELD Greystones
• 12.02.24 BIRMINGHAM Kitchen Garden Cafe
• 13.02.24 OXFORD The Jericho
• 15.02.24 MANCHESTER Gullivers
• 16.02.24 GLASGOW Glad Cafe
• 17.02.24 NEWCASTLE Cluny
• 18.02.24 SALTBURN Theatre
• 19.02.24 HEBDEN BRIDGE Trades Club

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