Kevin Bronson on November 13th, 2014

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Milwaukee-based Field Report has expanded its sonic palette since its 2012 debut, but the intimate beauty of singer-songwriter Chris Porterfield’s work remains. Field Report’s sophomore album, “Marigolden” (out last month), is rich with poetic lyrical content, while each song is composed with intricate detail – from the swirling acoustic guitars on songs like “Home” and “Marigolden” to the synth-y flourishes of “Wings.” Porterfield, who previously played in the band DeYarmond Edison with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, earned acclaim from critics as well as his folk-based peers for the first album, and in the past two years Field Report downsized from a septet to a quartet and toured the country, finding inspiration for their latest release. “The body remembers what the mind forgets,” says Porterfield, describing the album’s common thread of time passed and distance away from loved ones. An evolution between the two albums is clearly present, as “Marigolden” maintains Field Report’s subtlety, while also musically sounding more optimistic and bright.

– Caitlyn Trudnich

||| Stream: “Decision Day” and “Home (Leave the Lights On)”

||| Live: Field Report performs tonight at the Satellite.

||| Also: Watch the video for “Home (Leave the Lights On)” below: