{{Use British English|date=December 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox album | name = Bright Green Field | type = studio | artist = Squid | cover = Bright Green Field - Squid.jpg | alt = | released = 7 May 2021 | recorded = March – October 2020 | studio = Mr. Dan's Studio (London) | genre = <!-- Only post-punk, krautrock and new wave are discussed below. Please source any additional genres --> * Post-punk * krautrock * new wave | length = 54:41 | label = Warp | producer = Dan Carey | prev_title = Natural Resources | prev_year = 2020 | next_title = O Monolith | next_year = 2023 | misc = {{Singles | name = Bright Green Field | type = studio | single1 = Narrator | single1date = 27 January 2021<ref name="pitchfork single 2021-01-27">{{cite web |last1=Yoo |first1=Noah |title=Squid Announce Debut Album Bright Green Field, Share Video for New Song "Narrator": Watch |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/squid-announce-debut-album-bright-green-field-share-video-for-new-song-narrator-watch/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=11 February 2021 |date=27 January 2021}}</ref> | single2 = Paddling | single2date = 16 March 2021<ref name="nme single 2021-03-16">{{cite web |last1=Skinner |first1=Tom |title=Listen to Squid's hypnotic new single 'Paddling' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-to-squids-hypnotic-new-single-paddling-2901952 |website=NME |access-date=16 March 2021 |date=16 March 2021}}</ref> | single3 = Pamphlets | single3date = 27 April 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKqlwUOwF88|title=Squid - Pamphlets (Official Audio)|via=YouTube}}</ref> }} }} '''''Bright Green Field''''' is the debut studio album by British band Squid. The album was recorded throughout 2020, and was released on 7 May 2021 through Warp Records. Three singles accompanied the album: "Narrator", released on 27 January; "Paddling", released on 16 March; and "Pamphlets", released on 27 April.
The album received widespread praise from critics<ref name=":0" /><ref name="exclaim 2021-01-27" /><ref name="p" />, who enjoyed its energetic sound and blending of genres such as new wave, Krautrock, and post-punk revival characteristic of the Windmill scene. Some were more critical, stating that the album lacked innovation<ref name="observer" /><ref name="sk" />.
== Background and recording == Recorded throughout 2020, the album was produced by Dan Carey, who had been associated with many of the band's affiliated acts, including Black Midi, Fontaines D.C., and Black Country, New Road.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Enis |first1=Eli |title=Squid Announce Debut Album Bright Green Field, Share New Song "Narrator": Stream |url=https://consequence.net/2021/01/squid-debut-album-bright-green-field-narrator/ |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=11 February 2021 |date=27 January 2021}}</ref>
In an interview with ''Exclaim!'', frontman Ollie Judge stated that the record's tracks "illustrate the places, events, and architecture that exist within (the album). Previous releases were playful and concerned with characters, whereas this album is darker and more concerned with the place — the emotional depth of the music has deepened."<ref name="exclaim 2021-01-27">{{cite web |last1=Gregory |first1=Allie |title=Squid Detail Debut Album 'Bright Green Field' |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/squid_detail_debut_lp_bright_green_field |website=Exclaim! |access-date=11 February 2021 |date=27 January 2021}}</ref>
The title of the album comes from a surrealist short story by Anna Kavan titled "Bright Green Field", in which the narrator is pursued by grass enveloping everything she sees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bright Green Field by Squid |url=https://genius.com/albums/Squid/Bright-green-field |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Genius |language=en}}</ref> The ninth song on the album, "Peel St.," gets its name from the street Kavan lived on, and its lyrics mirror her novel ''Ice''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-06 |title=The Story Behind Every Song On Squid's New Album 'Bright Green Field' |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2145348/the-story-behind-every-song-on-squids-new-album-bright-green-field/interviews/footnotes-interview/ |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref>
== Release and promotion == === Singles === The band signed with Warp Records in March 2020 and, later that spring, released two standalone singles with the label, "Sludge" and "Broadcaster". In January 2021 the lead single off the album, "Narrator", was released, which corresponded with the album's announcement. According to the band, there was an extensive list of recordings undertaken for the production and mastering of the album, including a 30-person choir, a horn and string ensemble, and field recordings of bees.<ref name="exclaim 2021-01-27"/>
=== Music videos === On 27 January 2021, the corresponding music video for the lead single "Narrator" was released. The music video was directed by Felix Geen and features the band playing in a broken 3D-rendered space. Geen said that he "wanted to make a video about the virtual creation process. For example, showing the components and processes behind virtual environment construction and looking closely at those small rocks, pieces of terrain and chunks of regolith that slot together to build something bigger. I often think this 'behind the digital curtain' part of 3D design looks more interesting than the final finished product since it conveys a process and an authorship".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yoo |first1=Noah |title=Squid Announce Debut Album Bright Green Field, Share Video for New Song "Narrator" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/squid-announce-debut-album-bright-green-field-share-video-for-new-song-narrator-watch/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |work=Pitchfork |date=27 January 2021}}</ref>
On 18 May 2021, a music video for the album's third single, "Pamphlets", was premiered and released on the band's YouTube channel. It was created and directed by Raman Djafari, while Barney Abrahams did the rigging and character animation. Of the video, the band stated that "when planning the music videos for the album, we wanted to make sure we covered a few different mediums, so we're super happy to have a freaky animation crossed off the list."<ref>{{cite news |title=Squid reveal 'Pamphlets' video |url=https://diymag.com/news/squid-pamphlets-video |access-date=29 April 2025 |work=DIY |date=19 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | ADM = 8.5/10<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/12843/Squid-Bright-Green-Field-.aspx|title=Bright Green Field by Squid reviews | Any Decent Music|website=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref> | MC = 89/100<ref name=mc>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/bright-green-field/squid|title=Bright Green Field by Squid|website=Metacritic|access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name=am>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bright-green-field-mw0003476085|title=Bright Green Field - Squid | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|last=Monger|first=Timothy|access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Clash'' | rev2score = 9/10<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/squid-bright-green-field|last=Murray|first=Robin|title=Squid - Bright Green Field|website=Clash|date=6 May 2021|access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Exclaim!'' | rev3score = 9/10<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/squid_bright_green_field_album_review|title=Squid Forge an Optimistic Path for Post-Punk's Future on 'Bright Green Field'|last=Gregory|first=Allie|date=2 May 2021|website=Exclaim!|access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref> | rev4 = ''The Independent'' | rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/squid-bright-green-field-review-van-morrison-b1842351.html|title=Album reviews: Squid – Bright Green Field and Van Morrison|last2=Brodsky|first2=Rachel|last=Lewis|first=Isobel|date=6 May 2021|access-date=8 May 2021|website=The Independent}}</ref> | rev5 = ''The Line of Best Fit'' | rev5score = 10/10<ref name=tlbf>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/squid-bright-green-field-album-review|title=Embodying our ever-changing world, Squid's Bright Green Field is a perfect blend of calm and chaos|website=The Line of Best Fit|last=Jenner|first=Alice|date=30 April 2021|access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref> | rev6 = ''NME'' | rev6score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name=nme>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/squid-bright-green-field-review-radar-2933954|title=Squid – 'Bright Green Field' review: a dazzling debut of wild experimentation|last=Richards|first=Will|work=NME|date=5 May 2021|access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref> | rev7 = ''The Observer'' | rev7score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name=observer/> | rev8 = ''Paste'' | rev8score = 8.0/10<ref name=p>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/squid/squid-bright-green-field-album-review/|title=Squid's Paranoia Is Palpable On the Chaotic but Refined Bright Green Field|last=Freedman|first=Max|date=7 May 2021|website=Paste|access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref> | rev9 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev9score = 8.0/10<ref name="Pitchfork Review">{{cite web|title=Squid: Bright Green Field|last=Bloom|first=Madison|url= https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/squid-bright-green-field/|date=11 May 2021|access-date=11 May 2021|website=Pitchfork}}</ref> | rev10 = ''The Skinny'' | rev10score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name=sk>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/squid-bright-green-field|last=Inglis|first=Tony|title=Squid - Bright Green Field album review - The Skinny|website=The Skinny|date=3 May 2021|access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref> <!-- Please keep a maximum of 10 reviews in table form per Template:Album ratings --> }}
''Bright Green Field'' received widespread acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received a weighted average score of 89, based on 19 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name=mc/>
''NME'' gave the album a perfect-score rave review, with Will Richards calling it "[a]n uncompromising debut that fulfils every ounce of the band's potential". He wrote that "(across) the album, which tops 50-minutes in length, the band veer between genres, styles and moods with abandon, mirroring the frightening, ever-changing political and cultural landscape it was created in."<ref name=nme/> In another perfect-score review, Alice Jenner of ''The Line of Best Fit'' hailed the album as "a debut for the ages" and praised its "perfect blend of calm and chaos [...] they stitch together moments of quintessential jazz and soul harmony with cacophonous punk impulse."<ref name=tlbf/>
US publications like ''Paste'' found that the band's "utter disregard for rock convention elevates ''Bright Green Field'''s paranoid, vaguely dystopian universe".<ref name=p/> Timothy Monger of AllMusic called the "much-anticipated debut album" an "energetic shouting match of vivid new wave, Krautrock, and post-punk influences". He went on to note that "[i]n some ways, their debut carries the absurdist lineage [of] 'Houseplants' and 'The Cleaner', two of the Squid's [sic] best-known singles, though it's also clearly its own monster. Like an avalanche gathering up everything in its path, Squid seem to thrive on evolution and an inherent sense of danger." He concluded that as "(truly) a band for the times, Squid feels like a wild jumble of thoughts come to life, effusing anger, confusion, humor, detachment, and even joyfulness in their pursuit of true creative freedom."<ref name=am/> Meanwhile, ''Mojo''{{'}}s Andrew Perry called the album a "thrilling post-punk/Krautrock collision", also directing praise toward Carey's production and Judge's vocals.<ref name="Mojo review">{{Cite magazine |last=Perry |first=Andrew |date=June 2021 |title=Alternative tentacles (Squid - Bright Green Field) |url=https://archive.org/details/mojo-june-2021/page/86/mode/2up |magazine=Mojo |page=86 |access-date=13 May 2021}}</ref>
A mixed review came from ''The Skinny'' whose Tony Inglis called the group "the guitar boys' buzz band of the moment". He noted that the album "follows in the footsteps of their best track The Cleaner – supercharging the banal and mundane with vigour and purpose – it rips, mixing genres like straight-ahead indie-rock with funk and jazz, and exploring ambient and textural backdrops which make their now-home Warp apt."<ref name=sk/> Writing for ''The Observer'', Emily Mackay was also critical of the album, claiming that "Nothing here is truly experimental or innovative – it's more the kind of music that gets labelled as such because of the influences it shows."<ref name=observer>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/may/09/squid-bright-green-field-review-debut|last=Mackay|first=Emily|title=Squid: Bright Green Field review: exhilarating punk-funk kraurock debut|work=The Observer|date=9 May 2021|access-date=26 May 2021}}</ref>
===Accolades=== {| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable plainrowheaders" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;" |+''Bright Green Field'' on year-end lists ! scope="col" |Publication ! scope="col" |Country ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |List ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" |Rank ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row" |Bleep | {{center|UK}} | Top 10 Albums of the Year 2021 | {{center|2}} | {{center|<ref name="Bleep2021">{{cite web |url=https://bleep.com/top-10-albums-of-the-year-2021/ |title=Top 10 Albums of the Year 2021 |work=Bleep |date=17 November 2021 |access-date=24 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117151921/https://bleep.com/top-10-albums-of-the-year-2021 |archive-date=17 November 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>}} |- ! scope="row" |''Far Out Magazine'' | {{center|UK}} | The five best post-punk albums of 2021 | {{center|2}} | {{center|<ref>{{cite news |last=Potter |first=Jordan |date=27 December 2021 |title=The five best post-punk albums of 2021 |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-five-best-post-punk-albums-of-2021/ |url-status=live |work=Far Out Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228164344/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-five-best-post-punk-albums-of-2021/ |archive-date=28 December 2021 |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref>}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" |''Les Inrockuptibles'' | rowspan="2" |{{center|FR}} | Carole Boinet's Top 10 Albums of 2021 | {{center|4}} | rowspan="2" |{{center|<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=28 December 2021 |title=Découvrez le top 10 des albums de 2021 par nos critiques musiques |trans-title=Discover the top 10 albums of 2021 by our music critics |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/musique/decouvrez-le-top-10-des-albums-de-2021-par-nos-critiques-musiques-424525-28-12-2021/ |url-status=live |language=fr |work=Les Inrockuptibles |location=Paris |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229124624/https://www.lesinrocks.com/musique/decouvrez-le-top-10-des-albums-de-2021-par-nos-critiques-musiques-424525-28-12-2021/ |archive-date=29 December 2021 |access-date=29 December 2021 |url-access=registration}}</ref>}} |- | Théo Dubreuil's Top 10 Albums of 2021 | {{center|3}} |- ! scope="row" |''NRC Handelsblad'' | {{center|NL}} | Jan Vollaard's best music of 2021 | {{center|1}} | {{center|<ref>{{cite news |last=Vollaard |first=Jan |date=29 December 2021 |title=De beste popmuziek van 2021 volgens NRC-recensenten |trans-title=The best popular music of 2021 according to NRC critics |url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2021/12/29/de-beste-popmuziek-van-2021-volgens-nrc-recensenten-a4072481 |url-status=live |language=nl |work=NRC Handelsblad |location=Amsterdam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229161645/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2021/12/29/de-beste-popmuziek-van-2021-volgens-nrc-recensenten-a4072481 |archive-date=29 December 2021 |access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref>}} |- ! scope="row" |''Paste'' | {{center|US}} | The 50 Best Albums of 2021 | {{center|18}} | {{center|<ref name="Paste2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-albums/best-albums-of-2021/ |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2021 |work=Paste |date=29 November 2021 |access-date=30 November 2021 |author= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129144255/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-albums/best-albums-of-2021/ |archive-date=29 November 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>}} |- ! scope="row" |Rough Trade | {{center|UK}} | Albums of the Year 2021 | {{center|6}} | {{center|<ref name="RoughTrade2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/albums-of-the-year-2021 |title=Albums of the Year 2021 |work=Rough Trade (UK) |date=November 2021 |access-date=7 December 2021 |author= |archive-url= |archive-date= }}</ref>}} |}
== Track listing == {{Track listing | headline = ''Bright Green Field'' track listing | total_length = 54:41 | all_writing = | title1 = Resolution Square | length1 = 0:40 | title2 = G.S.K. | length2 = 3:10 | title3 = Narrator | note3 = featuring Martha Skye Murphy | length3 = 8:28 | title4 = Boy Racers | length4 = 7:34 | title5 = Paddling | length5 = 6:15 | title6 = Documentary Filmmaker | length6 = 4:55 | title7 = 2010 | length7 = 4:28 | title8 = The Flyover | length8 = 1:10 | title9 = Peel St. | length9 = 4:52 | title10 = Global Groove | length10 = 5:06 | title11 = Pamphlets | length11 = 8:03 }}
{{track listing | total_length = 65:37 | headline = Japanese edition (bonus tracks)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.beatink.com/products/detail.php?product_id=11690|title=BEATINK.COMBright Green Field|publisher=Beatink.com|accessdate=30 August 2021}}</ref> | title12 = Sludge | length12 = 5:00 | title13 = Broadcaster | length13 = 5:56 }}
== Personnel == *Ollie Judge – lead vocals, drums *Louis Borlase – guitar, bass guitar, vocals *Arthur Leadbetter – keyboards, cello, percussion *Laurie Nankivell – bass guitar, cornet, percussion *Anton Pearson – guitar, bass, vocals, percussion *Nataly Corolscaia – violin *Lewis Evans – alto saxophone *Georgia Hannington – cello *Charlie Keen – trombone *Yulia Knowles – viola *Emma-Jean Thackray – trumpet<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bright-green-field-mw0003476085 | title=Squid - Bright Green Field Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic | website=AllMusic }}</ref> *Martha Skye Murphy – vocals on "Narrator"
== Charts == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for ''Bright Green Field'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Flanders|31|artist=Squid|album=Bright Green Field|rowheader=true|access-date=16 May 2021}} |- {{album chart|Wallonia|153|artist=Squid|album=Bright Green Field|rowheader=true|access-date=16 May 2021}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|80|artist=Squid|album=Bright Green Field|rowheader=true|access-date=14 May 2021}} |- {{album chart|Ireland2|93|artist=Squid|rowheader=true|access-date=15 May 2021}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|5|date=20210514|rowheader=true|access-date=15 May 2021}} |- {{album chart|UK2|4|date=20210514|rowheader=true|access-date=14 May 2021}} |- {{album chart|UKIndependent|1|date=20210514|rowheader=true|access-date=15 May 2021}} |}
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Squid (band)}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2021 debut albums Category:Squid (band) albums Category:Warp Records albums Category:Albums produced by Dan Carey (record producer) Category:Krautrock albums Category:New wave albums by English artists