Elysian Fields - Swirling Flame
Released 24 October 2025, via CD and digital
Susie Bishop - vocals & violin
Matt Keegan - tenor saxophone & alto clarinet
Jenny Eriksson - electric viola da gamba
Matt McMahon - piano
Jacques Emery - double bass
Brett Hirst - double bass
Siebe Pogson - bass guitar
Australia’s only electric viola da gambist, Jenny Eriksson, returns with Swirling Flame, the third album from her genre-defying ensemble Elysian Fields. A project born from recovery and renewal, Swirling Flame is a bold fusion of jazz, baroque, contemporary classical and folk influences—anchored by the haunting resonance of the rarely-heard electric viola da gamba.
Formed by Eriksson in 2015 with the support of Matt Keegan and Matt McMahon, Elysian Fields exists at the crossroads of multiple musical worlds. Their distinctive sound has made them welcome guests across jazz, classical and folk festivals alike, and their past albums Fika and What Should I Say have drawn praise from critics in Australia and abroad. With Swirling Flame, the band deepens its sonic identity while continuing to break new ground for the electric gamba.
“I was recovering from surgery on my arm when the idea for this album took hold,” says Eriksson. “I wanted to create a recording that embraced both of my musical loves: 21st-century improvised music and the baroque tradition. That’s always been the essence of Elysian Fields—bridging old and new, acoustic and electric, past and future.”
Swirling Flame is a kaleidoscopic collection of original works and commissions, with contributions from band members and acclaimed Australian composers. First Nations musician Troy Russell opens the album with The Acceptance, a flexibly scored musical Acknowledgement of Country. Other highlights include the shimmering The Slow Tides by bassist Jacques Emery; a fiery new solo work for gamba by Matt Keegan; November, a lush, harmonically rich quartet from Matt McMahon; and Von-Hope, a haunting Icelandic folk reimagining by composer Hildigunnur Rúnarsdóttir. Eriksson herself contributes the title track, inspired by the wood-fired ceramics of her close friend, Barbara Campbell-Allen OAM.
Recorded during a period of uncertainty, Swirling Flame captures the spirit of risk and resilience that defines Elysian Fields. From duo to quintet settings, the album highlights the ensemble’s deep interplay and shared artistic vision. At its core, the electric viola da gamba—an instrument with roots in the 16th century—sings anew, refracted through jazz harmony, folk melody, and chamber nuance.
“What will listeners hear?” Eriksson asks. “Unity and diversity, ancient and modern, and the love we have for each other as people and musicians. I still believe we’re pushing boundaries in tone colour and texture—and that’s what makes this ensemble so special to me.”
Swirling Flame is released on Earshift Music in 2025 on CD and digital formats, distributed worldwide by MGM, Proper UK and Bertus Europe.