The Week That Was is the first solo project from Peter Brewis, the chap that brought us Field Music. A 32 minute epic, aiming to explore the impact the media has upon us as individuals and is said the be a composition of snap shots from stories inspired by novelist Paul Auster, which ultimately creates a puzzle said to fall into place upon listening. Written in just one week the inspiration rests both on Auster’s rapid imagination and also upon a specific incident involving Brewis discarding his TV, which subsequently probes him to question society’s reliance upon the media, and it’s many forms. What would happen if this form of media pacification were eradicated? Sounds slightly ominous methinks.
Opening with the ultimate 80s drum beat is Learn to Learn which, follows on in the same 80s pop noir vein with Gabriel-esque vocals and some disjointed melodies. Despite this all being accompanied by a panging guitar riff and ending with a dramatically abrupt finish it leaves the listener feeling pretty unfulfilled. Sadly this is the case with the majority of the album.
From the synths to drum machines, all of these 80s through-back sounds seem to have been harnessed far better by younger are more “inexperienced” acts like The Mystery Jets and Black Kids. There are elements of splendour though, ‘It’s All Gone Quiet’ has the soothing decadence of Kate Bush, and many of the tracks stray far from the usual indie surroundings which is something to be upheld in itself. Whilst ‘The Good Life’ plies you with images of being beaten to a pulp by advertising with its incessant messages.
When compared with Brewis’s other projects such as Field Music, The Week That Was feels like a pretty muddled and unfinished attempt at a concept album with tired homage’s to 80s greats.
52%
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I think you’re a bit harsh on this – I think it’s really good. Probably depends if you’re a fan of XTC mind… And I’m a fan of Paul Auster as well, so I liked the idea behind this. Oh well! :-)
I’m a bit wary of this type of 80s revivalism but I think this is better than most. I liked alot of Peter Brewis’ ‘School of Language’ project and, to a lesser extent, Field Music, but I think their best is yet to come.
I think that you have hugely underrated this album – I think it compares well with anything that the Brewis brothers have done previously – and that puts it in very good company. I score it 85%.
We’re all ganging up, are we? Yeah, I’m surprised by this review, especially if one of the angles is “it’s not as 80s revivalist as Erol Alkan’s productions”, because I don’t think that’s ever really been the overriding point with Brewis. Both Field Music albums have elements of Peter Gabriel – and XTC, whose Skylarking and Oranges & Lemons I hear a lot of in this – about them. (Although the School Of Language album disappointed me, it must be added)
Calm down kids, I didn’t say it was all bad. All i am saying is “I’ve had better”;)
x
:-)