Rating: NNNN
Field Music have yet to put out a stinker of an album. The Sunderland, England, band’s fourth is as ambitious, clear-headed and progressive as ever, with 15 seamless songs that consistently keep interest high and ideas varied.
More than ever, the Brewis brothers make known their allegiance to prog-rock forefathers XTC, Genesis, ELO and Pink Floyd, moving their brief songs in myriad melodic, rhythmic and tonal directions without frustrating listeners. They go for clean, natural-sounding production, and violins, cello, clarinet and trumpet frequently back their guitar/drums/bass set-up.
Sorry Again, Mate blends Queenesque operatic touches with Beatlesesque widescreen pop, Choosing Sides starts out like a zany throwaway before moving into psychedelic territory, while the relatively straightforward Who’ll Pay The Bills? keeps their rhythmic chops front and centre.
Field Music’s lyrics, too, shouldn’t be overlooked. Few bands can get so much mileage out of a mere five or six lines, especially on the gorgeously harmonized How Many More Times?, which ends on the word “moon” and leads appropriately into the song Ce Soir.
Top track: Sorry Again, Mate
