Posted on 10 March 2010 by Mathew Parri Thomas
Through their many incarnations brothers Peter and David Brewis have been carving their own brand of wonky guitar pop, with influences ranging from Bowie, Bush (Kate, not G.W. Jr), and Zeppelin to the author Paul Auster. After their self-imposed hiatus and a couple of “solo” projects they’re back with a predictably brilliant album, this time under the Field Music moniker. Mathew Parri Thomas managed to steal a rare interview with Peter Brewis to talk about double albums, band identity and the pursuit of commercial success.
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Posted on 24 February 2010 by Natalia Raha
Sunderland’s Field Music have been dabbling with career suicide for quite a few years now. After 2007s outstanding Tones of Town, the then-3-piece nearly imploded whilst touring the US, calling their hiatus. David and Peter Brewis (co-frontmen and brothers) saw the following year through with records under the monikers of School of Language and The Week That Was respectively – they pretty much never left us.
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Posted on 15 February 2010 by Rich Hughes
OK, so the intro might come across like the soundtrack to some lost John Sullivan penned 70’s sitcom, but when those dulcet vocals kick in, you know it’s great to have Field Music back.
After taking a sabbatical, they’re back, not just with a new album Measure, but a new double album. Not much has changed in the Field Music stable though. Those guitar pop hooks are there aplenty, the vocal harmonies humming around the perfectly delicate percussion. There’s also some steel sneaked in as well. After the sitcom beginning, the guitars kick in with a real menace, that simplistic riff is beefed up to thrust the song into another life.
‘Each Time Is A New Time’ makes you realise what a great addition to the British music scene Field Music actually are. It’s the perfect blend of old and new – retro without being copying. This is the sound of perfect pop music that appeals to your head as well as your heart. Just the thing for a cold and wintery Monday morning.
Posted on 11 January 2010 by Adam Elmahdi
The snow may be fresh upon the streets of London and Hoxton Square resembles an ice-rink of death, but Lawrence Arabia (AKA New Zealander James Milne) is here to inject a dose of summer into this arctic landscape. The recent Bella Union signing, opening for cult Sunderlanders Field Music, has a fine ear for catchy pop melodies, underpinned with a tropical swing not a million miles away from his former band the Ruby Suns. His band share his infectious enthusiasm, adding lively percussion and a dash of trumpet to the mix to complete an undemanding but enjoyable package. Continue Reading
Posted on 25 November 2009 by Rich Thane
Field Music will be playing more shows in support of their new album due out on 15th February 2010.
Having just blown away the cobwebs after a three year hiatus, Field Music have, quite frankly, been utterly astonishing at their recent sold out warm up shows. So, as well as showing off tracks from their ambitious and dazzling double album “Field Music (measure)”, expect them to romp through their splendid back catalogue.
January
7 – London, Hoxton Bar and Grill
February
24 – Glasgow, Nice n Sleazy
25 – Leeds Brudenell Social Club
26 – Manchester, Islington Mill
28 – Sheffield, Fusion Sheffield Union
March
1 – Birmingham, O2 Academy 2
2 – Oxford, O2 Academy 2
5 – Ireland, Dublin, Crawdaddy
Posted on 26 October 2009 by Rich Thane
Following a self-imposed three year hiatus, Sunderland’s Field Music are all set to return with a new 20 track double album on 15th February 2010 (16th in the US).
By way of apology for having being away so long two new tracks are now available to download from their website www.field-music.co.uk; the startling blues riff attack of “Each Time Is a New Time” and the melody rich impressionist pop of “Measure”. Both tracks are also available to listen to as low quality streams are on their MySpace.
The album is just called Field Music but for practical purposes to distinguish it from the first album its called Field Music (Measure). The tracklisting is as follows: Continue Reading
Posted on 30 September 2008 by Charley Caines
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.
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The Week That Was on Myspace
