They are a band from the city in which I reside (Sunderland), who do actually sound rather up my street...
― Tom May (Tom May), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 10:40 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 10:46 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 10:56 (7 years ago) Permalink
Haha, well a bit. That's certainly the obvious and lazy critical comparison, but they're a lot more interesting than that would lead you to believe. There's bits of jerky post-punk but also dainty psych-pop, gorgeous harmonizing and stylish orchestration. 'Shorter Shorter' may be the one to download.
― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 11:04 (7 years ago) Permalink
― emil.y (emil.y), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 11:21 (7 years ago) Permalink
― lauren (laurenp), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 11:48 (7 years ago) Permalink
That's what they said about Dogs Die In Hot Cars and I hated them...
― JoB (JoB), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 12:00 (7 years ago) Permalink
I gather that Field Music may be something better than a lot of these tedious 'post punk' bandwagoners; but might it be a case of promise rather than delivery? I'm certainly more keen on buying the Shortwave Set album, for instance, than theirs. No surprises I guess, considering how much people have been raving about that.
― Tom May (Tom May), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 12:07 (7 years ago) Permalink
You can hear a couple of streaming Field Music things here:http://www.memphis-industries.com/field_music.html
― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 12:21 (7 years ago) Permalink
― righteousmaelstrom (righteousmaelstrom), Tuesday, 30 August 2005 21:12 (7 years ago) Permalink
― darin (darin), Tuesday, 30 August 2005 21:55 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 31 August 2005 01:22 (7 years ago) Permalink
It's so hard to find interesting, tuneful, quirky, pop these days.
― Brooker Buckingham (Brooker B), Wednesday, 31 August 2005 14:03 (7 years ago) Permalink
― marc h. (marc h.), Wednesday, 31 August 2005 14:25 (7 years ago) Permalink
Ain't that the sad truth.
― darin (darin), Wednesday, 31 August 2005 15:05 (7 years ago) Permalink
Harumph.
― darin (darin), Friday, 7 October 2005 22:28 (7 years ago) Permalink
― darin (darin), Friday, 7 October 2005 22:35 (7 years ago) Permalink
I've told quite a few people about them, but it's hard to find the album. And the couple of people I was sure would like it didn't seem enthused when I played it for them.
Maybe it's TOO quirky for most. I don't know.
Nathan Michel's "The Beast" is like that too. Brilliant, complex sculpted pop filtered through DSP. Absolutely astounding, but a bit offputting in its' execution. The people that gravitate towards this form of ornate pop aren't sure what to think about the Max treatments on the analog instrumentation.
― Brooker Buckingham (Brooker B), Friday, 7 October 2005 23:31 (7 years ago) Permalink
― FACEBRACE (FACEBRACE), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 14:13 (6 years ago) Permalink
― You've Got Scourage On Your Breath (Haberdager), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 14:19 (6 years ago) Permalink
here's some official tracks via the label site ..
http://static.memphis-industries.com/sittightbyfieldmusic.mp3
http://static.memphis-industries.com/giveitloseittakeitbyfieldmusic.mp3
"xtc vs yes" - good call.
― mark e (mark e), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 14:28 (6 years ago) Permalink
― righteousmaelstrom (righteousmaelstrom), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:03 (6 years ago) Permalink
― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:48 (6 years ago) Permalink
― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:07 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:14 (6 years ago) Permalink
excellent video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBqx9Tpmj-U
― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:17 (6 years ago) Permalink
― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:23 (6 years ago) Permalink
― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:33 (6 years ago) Permalink
― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:53 (6 years ago) Permalink
― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:54 (6 years ago) Permalink
Too bad they broke up, but The Week That Was hits the spot just as well.
― Fastnbulbous, Tuesday, 7 October 2008 20:52 (4 years ago) Permalink
Yeah, not bad, but needs a few more listenings I think.School of Language is bit boring, though.
― zeus, Tuesday, 7 October 2008 21:33 (4 years ago) Permalink
i wasn't too excited by the TWTW album.. zeus probably otm about needing more listenings
― jonty alouette (electricsound), Tuesday, 7 October 2008 22:23 (4 years ago) Permalink
woah
http://pitchfork.com/news/36878-field-music-return-with-double-album/
― congratulations (n/a), Thursday, 22 October 2009 17:37 (3 years ago) Permalink
Awesome. Cool cover.
― M. Grissom/DeShields (jaymc), Thursday, 22 October 2009 17:41 (3 years ago) Permalink
Double album means the whole thing might be longer than an hour?
― & other try hard shitfests (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 22 October 2009 17:47 (3 years ago) Permalink
that new song is pretty cool. i don't listen to them that much, but they seem like a really smart band.
― Ømår Littel (Jordan), Thursday, 22 October 2009 18:17 (3 years ago) Permalink
that is a good cover. i was never terribly impressed by either of the offshoots, they seem to do a much better job when pooling their creative resources
― would s*m*a*s*h (electricsound), Thursday, 22 October 2009 22:04 (3 years ago) Permalink
i prefer the week that was to field music. they do genesis way better than elbow do. i'd be more excited about a double concept album by them
― kamerad, Thursday, 22 October 2009 22:30 (3 years ago) Permalink
Measure comes out February 16. So glad, I thought they broke up for good!
― Fastnbulbous, Friday, 23 October 2009 15:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11584-measure/
nice song
"it's their White Album"...
― Zeno, Tuesday, 27 October 2009 15:17 (3 years ago) Permalink
i was never terribly impressed by either of the offshoots
I really, really liked The Week That Was. As usual, though, it was too brief. I hope there's a second one someday.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 October 2009 15:26 (3 years ago) Permalink
first impression of the new record:
pros: interesting xtc/mccartney meets some math rock sound, catchy melodies.cons: too long,probably not constantly successful.
― Zeno, Sunday, 6 December 2009 22:30 (3 years ago) Permalink
too long
this is a big shame. one of the strengths of the first record is how compact and un-noodly it is
― an error has occurred (electricsound), Sunday, 6 December 2009 22:39 (3 years ago) Permalink
they tried to be a little Deerhoof-y-experimental here, sometimes it works. sometimes not.
but,again, it's only my 1st impression.
― Zeno, Sunday, 6 December 2009 22:44 (3 years ago) Permalink
Absolutely floored by the new one. Combined with their two other (flawless) albums and wonderful solo projects, I'm solidly convinced that Field Music is one of the most significant bands of the past ten years. They're on par with SFA for quality/complexity/catchiness.
― Davey D, Friday, 18 December 2009 03:19 (3 years ago) Permalink
There's a fussy math-rock quality about them that kind of irritates me, but not aws much as it irritates people whom I try to turn on to them.
It is a lonely and not entirely enthusiastic fandom.
― I was in a drop-D metal band we called Requiem (staggerlee), Friday, 18 December 2009 04:39 (3 years ago) Permalink
Very anxious to hear this!
― you gone float up with it (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 18 December 2009 04:39 (3 years ago) Permalink
i should probably listen to it huh
― BIG HOOTY aka the Sapperticker (electricsound), Sunday, 2 January 2011 01:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
hahaha you mean you nommed it for the 2010 poll on principle
hero
― Boo Radely and the Super Fury Aminal (acoleuthic), Sunday, 2 January 2011 01:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
Measure is indeed awesome. I still don't know why it was so widely ignored. Pitchfork must own stock in 4AD or something.
― Darin, Sunday, 2 January 2011 06:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
this is soaring up my year-end list by the day
phenomenal achievement
probably not boorish enough for most ilxors' tastes :P
― acoleuthic, Monday, 10 January 2011 18:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
New album "Plumb" out in February. Excitement! New track here - http://www.field-music.co.uk/
― Touch of Death, Tuesday, 1 November 2011 14:39 (1 year ago) Permalink
I've never really been too keen on this band, aside from a couple of tracks. 'Give It, Lose It, Take It' for example. But for the most part I just find them a bit soggy. I'm not convinced they're in any way great songwriters, either.
― Turrican, Tuesday, 1 November 2011 20:35 (1 year ago) Permalink
It's a bit of a shame, because on paper they're one of those bands I really should like, but just don't. I own both their first two albums and I just never really have the urge to play them!
― Turrican, Tuesday, 1 November 2011 20:42 (1 year ago) Permalink
http://www.npr.org/2012/02/05/146086375/first-listen-field-music-plumb
― Roberto Spiralli, Monday, 6 February 2012 23:15 (1 year ago) Permalink
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/feb/19/field-music-brewis-plumb-interview?newsfeed=true
Interesting article.
New LP is very good as well
― gouty ted, Monday, 20 February 2012 08:36 (1 year ago) Permalink
Plumb is fucking awesome.
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 23 February 2012 18:21 (1 year ago) Permalink
I got the debut but wasn't fussed. Missed everything since until now. Guess I should get Measure?
IMO, Tones of Town towers over both the debut and Measure.
― Ascot Fitzgerald (jaymc), Thursday, 23 February 2012 18:38 (1 year ago) Permalink
i like Measure best but they're all pretty good
― ciderpress, Thursday, 23 February 2012 18:39 (1 year ago) Permalink
actually i like the The Week That Was record best if that counts
i kind of like these guys but everything they do sounds exactly the same to me. i probably don't need to keep getting their new albums.
― congratulations (n/a), Thursday, 23 February 2012 18:42 (1 year ago) Permalink
I dunno I thought Measure was pretty great
― Darin, Thursday, 23 February 2012 18:44 (1 year ago) Permalink
Oh man, I was excited to listen to Plumb -- didn't realize this thread had been revived two weeks ago.
― Ascot Fitzgerald (jaymc), Thursday, 23 February 2012 18:44 (1 year ago) Permalink
and I think it's their least samey sounding album fwiw (xp re: measure)
Nm, found it on Luisterpaal.
― Ascot Fitzgerald (jaymc), Thursday, 23 February 2012 18:45 (1 year ago) Permalink
Ah, Field Music. I thought the first album had its moments, especially 'It's Not The Only Way To Feel Happy', 'If Only The Moon Were Up', 'You're So Pretty...', 'Pieces' and 'You Can Decide', but for me Tones Of Town is the one they haven't beaten yet, to my mind. It's so small and compact you can listen to it in one sitting and it just breezes by, however the attention to detail in it is quite something. I like how they record/produce a lot of this stuff themselves, although you can definitely tell that their tracks aren't really honed through live performances and have been painstakingly crafted from bottom to top in the studio. They're truly a band that rely on themselves almost completely, which I like.
I wasn't too taken with Measure on the whole... I thought it had some great ideas, but I don't think that they really had it in them to make a record of that length at this stage in their career. I've been reliably informed that Plumb has more in common with Tones Of Town than any of their other records, so even though I haven't heard it yet I'm very much looking forward to it.
One of the best things for me about Field Music being a local band is that I pass by the cafe from the front cover of Tones Of Town quite regularly.
― Turrican, Friday, 24 February 2012 02:49 (1 year ago) Permalink
measure def my least favourite though it's not crap by any means. the newie is v enjoyable but for me feels like it's missing what made the first two albums so easy to love
― ~=(,,_,,):3 (electricsound), Friday, 24 February 2012 02:54 (1 year ago) Permalink
Bought TOT and ordered Measure.
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Sunday, 26 February 2012 03:58 (1 year ago) Permalink
Yeah I agree with the TOT > all else sentiment, that thing should have been way more acclaimed - it's pretty much perfect. I've listened to the new one a few timesbut it's yet to fully sink in. Very endearing interviewees, it would seem.
― Simon H., Sunday, 26 February 2012 04:01 (1 year ago) Permalink
and yeah School of Language / The Week That Was records are essential listens if you're into the FM stuff.
― Simon H., Sunday, 26 February 2012 04:03 (1 year ago) Permalink
Never did hear the School of Language record, but The Week That Was was pretty good.
Really love the new one, as of right now I'd probably rank them: TOT > Plumb > S/T > Measure
― Gonjasufjanstephen O'Malley (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Sunday, 26 February 2012 04:34 (1 year ago) Permalink
Measure still strikes me as a standard Field Music record, only with every single track from the session thrown in, rather than the band cherrypicking the best material.
― Simon H., Sunday, 26 February 2012 04:40 (1 year ago) Permalink
Yeah Measure has its moments, but its far too scattered and overlong. The beauty of TOT and the new one is how concise they are.
― Gonjasufjanstephen O'Malley (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Sunday, 26 February 2012 04:43 (1 year ago) Permalink
As Simon says, I'd definitely check out the School Of Language and The Week That Was records, although I think The Week That Was is probably more my cup of tea than School Of Language.
― Turrican, Sunday, 26 February 2012 06:04 (1 year ago) Permalink
http://sickmouthy.com/2012/03/31/field-music-plumb/
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Saturday, 31 March 2012 09:27 (1 year ago) Permalink
Great write-up Nick. It's pretty much my own album of the year so far too, and you do it justice. I've been driven away from the album format by my listening habits of late so it's wonderful to find a band that still believes in the medium enough to create something that can ONLY be heard in one glorious sweep. While not as overwhelming as Measure (which is probably still my favourite, just about), this is more concise, intricate and arguably sublime.
One of the most important British bands of the day. I wish they were more central to the indie discourse.
― once a week is ample, Saturday, 31 March 2012 13:09 (1 year ago) Permalink
yeah nice job nick.
it took me a long time to get into this for some reason. i think the weird halting start over the first 3 tracks didn't help. but since it clicked i have liked it more and more with every listen, i think maybe even more than measure now. really amazing stuff. it's my current default listen when i haven't got anything particular in mind to put on.
interesting about the single choices, not surprising necessarily but not what i would've guessed. is this the picture seems like a more obvious single?
― Roberto Spiralli, Saturday, 31 March 2012 13:43 (1 year ago) Permalink
Huh this band is perplexing in a good way. Never heard of them. Checked the new album out...interesting, definitely hear the XTC influence, that was the first thing I thought of, like mid period XTC but more prog.....tbh though some of the prog moves are a little corny, or fusion....reminds me of Brand X
But this is cool I think it will grow on me...also appreciate how completely unfashionable it is, like they are completely on their own trip....can't imagine NME is exactly breaking down their door
― the penultimate prophets (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Saturday, 31 March 2012 16:48 (1 year ago) Permalink
@sickmouthy Nick, thanks! That's so kind. You've pretty much nailed how I hope people will hear the record. It means a lot so again thanks!2 hours ago
That was from @fieldmusicmusic, which is the younger brother: very nice to know they appreciated my appreciation!
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Saturday, 31 March 2012 16:51 (1 year ago) Permalink
Liked that review too!
― the penultimate prophets (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Saturday, 31 March 2012 19:06 (1 year ago) Permalink
Autumn tour dates on the website.
http://www.field-music.co.uk/
Will try and make it to Bath.
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 13 April 2012 08:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
Bath tickets bought.
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 16 April 2012 10:08 (1 year ago) Permalink
http://devonrecordclub.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/field-music-plumb-round-27-nicks-choice/
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 16:05 (1 year ago) Permalink
I guess I'm kind of surprised you didn't fall for Tones of Town at the time.
― sockless in moccasins (jaymc), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 16:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
I simply didn't hear it until a couple of months ago. They fell totally off my radar.
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 16:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
That's fair enough, I guess. This band have never seemed like the kind of band who would want to force themselves on anyone's radar. They're just kind of there, waiting for people to discover them.
― The Jupiter 8 (Turrican), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 16:59 (1 year ago) Permalink
I decided to give this a go but it's leaving me really cold. There are nice touches here and there but a lot of it is really laboured-sounding, like they've gone for this second-half-of-Abbey-Road vibe (which I'm not crazy about in the first place) but they're not good enough songwriters to pull it off.
― Homosexual Satan Wasp (Matt DC), Sunday, 20 May 2012 09:53 (1 year ago) Permalink
Didn't get to see them in Bath last night because of our interminable house problems. Gutted. Listening to Measure as some kind of recompense. It's really very good. I just love the sound they make.
― comedy is unnatural and abhorrent (Scik Mouthy), Saturday, 20 October 2012 09:30 (7 months ago) Permalink
Still haven't got round to "Plumb" yet, though I loved "Measure". Should investigate their back catalogue too. I've heard good things about their covers album as well, I love the song choices.
― Rob M Revisited, Saturday, 20 October 2012 09:54 (7 months ago) Permalink
plumb is very good, almost full-blown prog-pop, which might or might not reflect the selections on their recent covers collection, play. they're reminding me more and more of XTC at their best
― reggie (qualmsley), Saturday, 20 October 2012 13:16 (7 months ago) Permalink
Having loved everything prior, I'm finding myself at a loss being able to get into Plumb. I'm not hearing any hooks at all. Measure wasn't as hooky as what came before it either, but it was so (comparatively) muscular and riffy it made up for it.
― DJ Smoove Groothe (staggerlee), Tuesday, 4 December 2012 21:01 (5 months ago) Permalink
Oh man, I love Plumb. Everything else is good, but this is next level. Amazing.
― i would never inflict the process of making a sandwich on myself (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 25 January 2013 21:24 (4 months ago) Permalink
plumb is really strange in that it doesn't seem to have any appreciable hooks but when i came back to it after not listening for several months, i immediately remembered every song and how it went
― tity boi historian (ciderpress), Friday, 25 January 2013 21:26 (4 months ago) Permalink
Yeah, every twist of every song is burned right into my cerebellum somehow. I think the way it's arranged and mixed makes for a lot of sonic fills and details which work as hooks. They're oblique hooks, which is, I think, what's made it so eminently replay ale for me - I never, ever feel as if I've burnt out on it or got too familiar with it.
― i would never inflict the process of making a sandwich on myself (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 25 January 2013 21:29 (4 months ago) Permalink
I just learned that Michael McKean is a Field Music fan. Who knew?
― jaymc, Tuesday, 19 March 2013 19:02 (2 months ago) Permalink
("In Context," from Tones of Town, is in the trailer for Christopher Guest's new HBO show, which features McKean.)
― jaymc, Tuesday, 19 March 2013 19:03 (2 months ago) Permalink