Our Man In The Field : 'How Long' - new single out now + UK tour announcement

‘How Long’ is the second single to be released from ‘Gold On The Horizon’, the forthcoming new album by Our Man In The Field aka singer/songwriter and actor Alex Ellis, who leads a crack team of musicians plying 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 new single finds Ellis lamenting the lack of decorum or respect in the media, politics and in public life, of which he states: “I’m more or less a glass half full kind of person, so I usually feel content that however bad things get or however far away from my preferred position society moves, it’ll pass and at some point we’ll move back towards the middle and it’ll get easier. However, it seems like we’ve been waiting a long time for that now.”

Out in November, ‘Gold On The Horizon’ has been produced by Tucker Martine (The National, Modest Mouse, My Morning Jacket, Roseanne Cash) and was recorded in Portland, Oregon. Its twelve songs are a collection of life observations and the urge to explore their universal meanings via Ellis’ fly-on-the-wall alter-persona. He explains: “I think of Our Man In The Field as more of a character and not really even me. I don’t necessarily want the listener to think about the songs as being mine or about me, it’s more about the story and the characters in them. They’re always about real people and hopefully that makes them relatable.”

OMITF issued a well received debut album, ‘The Company Of Strangers’, in 2020 and wowed audiences promoting it when guesting for the likes of The Delines and touring in their own right. ‘Gold On The Horizon’ sees them move up a level with songs that range from raw and barren in ‘Come Back To Me’, which showcases Ellis’ trademark soulful vocal harmonies via a sparse arrangement of acoustic guitar and pedal steel, to the spacious mirror ball slow-dance of ‘Go Easy’, to the full desert noir feel of horns, baritone guitar and backing harmonies running through album opener ‘Feel Good’. It also includes the bright, upbeat teaser single ‘Last Dance’ [LISTEN], which recalls Hiss Golden Messenger (who recently had an album mixed by Martine) and is embellished with a country fiddle melody and oscillating synth line.

A London launch event for ‘Gold On The Horizon' at The Slaughtered Lamb on 25th November has sold out and a second set added. Shows are at 6.30pm and 9pm.

OMITF will also be touring to promote the album, with other current dates and confirmed post-release shows as follows:

• 14.10.23 MALMESBURY The Kings Arms
• 21.10.23 NEWBALD Village Hall
• 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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