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 (eighteen years ago) link
― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 10:46 (eighteen years ago) link
― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 10:56 (eighteen years ago) link
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 (eighteen years ago) link
― emil.y (emil.y), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 11:21 (eighteen years ago) link
― lauren (laurenp), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 11:48 (eighteen years ago) link
That's what they said about Dogs Die In Hot Cars and I hated them...
― JoB (JoB), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 12:00 (eighteen years ago) link
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 (eighteen years ago) link
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 (eighteen years ago) link
― righteousmaelstrom (righteousmaelstrom), Tuesday, 30 August 2005 21:12 (eighteen years ago) link
― darin (darin), Tuesday, 30 August 2005 21:55 (eighteen years ago) link
― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 31 August 2005 01:22 (eighteen years ago) link
It's so hard to find interesting, tuneful, quirky, pop these days.
― Brooker Buckingham (Brooker B), Wednesday, 31 August 2005 14:03 (eighteen years ago) link
― marc h. (marc h.), Wednesday, 31 August 2005 14:25 (eighteen years ago) link
Ain't that the sad truth.
― darin (darin), Wednesday, 31 August 2005 15:05 (eighteen years ago) link
Harumph.
― darin (darin), Friday, 7 October 2005 22:28 (eighteen years ago) link
― darin (darin), Friday, 7 October 2005 22:35 (eighteen years ago) link
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 (eighteen years ago) link
― FACEBRACE (FACEBRACE), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 14:13 (seventeen years ago) link
― You've Got Scourage On Your Breath (Haberdager), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 14:19 (seventeen years ago) link
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 (seventeen years ago) link
― righteousmaelstrom (righteousmaelstrom), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:03 (seventeen years ago) link
― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:48 (seventeen years ago) link
― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:07 (seventeen years ago) link
― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:14 (seventeen years ago) link
excellent video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBqx9Tpmj-U
― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:17 (seventeen years ago) link
― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:23 (seventeen years ago) link
― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:33 (seventeen years ago) link
― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:53 (seventeen years ago) link
― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:54 (seventeen years ago) link
Too bad they broke up, but The Week That Was hits the spot just as well.
― Fastnbulbous, Tuesday, 7 October 2008 20:52 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
woah
http://pitchfork.com/news/36878-field-music-return-with-double-album/
― congratulations (n/a), Thursday, 22 October 2009 17:37 (fourteen years ago) link
Awesome. Cool cover.
― M. Grissom/DeShields (jaymc), Thursday, 22 October 2009 17:41 (fourteen years ago) link
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 (fourteen years ago) link
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 (fourteen years ago) link
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 (fourteen years ago) link
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 (fourteen years ago) link
Measure comes out February 16. So glad, I thought they broke up for good!
― Fastnbulbous, Friday, 23 October 2009 15:33 (fourteen years ago) link
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11584-measure/
nice song
"it's their White Album"...
― Zeno, Tuesday, 27 October 2009 15:17 (fourteen years ago) link
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 (fourteen years ago) link
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 (fourteen years ago) link
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 (fourteen years ago) link
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 (fourteen years ago) link
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 (fourteen years ago) link
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 (fourteen years ago) link
Very anxious to hear this!
― you gone float up with it (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 18 December 2009 04:39 (fourteen years ago) link
Agreed that people here in the US don't seem to be aware of them. They're playing what is pretty much my city's smallest proper venue in a couple weeks, and it probably won't even sell out. And tix are only 12 bucks!
But yeah, some hype from the likes of NPR would prob help these guys out. (As you said, in the best way possible!)
― dc, Tuesday, 8 March 2016 21:24 (eight years ago) link
I don't remember how I found Tones of Town (I think it was a couple years after it came out), but I remember first thinking it was something from the mid to late 70s, and second thinking "Why has no one ever even mentioned this band's name to me before?"
― on entre O.K. on sort K.O. (man alive), Tuesday, 8 March 2016 21:48 (eight years ago) link
Yeah, I def came upon them by accident, too. (Uh, to the extent that obsessive-compulsively looking up every band I hear about for the last 20 years is an accident.)
― dc, Tuesday, 8 March 2016 21:56 (eight years ago) link
lol otm
― on entre O.K. on sort K.O. (man alive), Tuesday, 8 March 2016 21:58 (eight years ago) link
I would guess they would (or do) play best to the aging-hipster-to-boomer set
Yeah, that more or less sums up the (small) crowd that showed up for them in DC last night. They were playing with a smaller band than usual; show had an appealing seat-of-the-pants quality. I dug it.
― dc, Friday, 25 March 2016 14:36 (eight years ago) link
oh yeah they're playing NYC tomorrow, almost forgot, may try to get tix
― human life won't become a cat (man alive), Friday, 25 March 2016 14:51 (eight years ago) link
playing tonight in philly. can't believe the show isn't sold out
― reggie (qualmsley), Friday, 25 March 2016 14:57 (eight years ago) link
Yeah, neither is NYC it seems. Small venue too. Guess whoever promotes them has not figured out how to do it properly. Want to go but I am old and a 9pm show with two openers definitely means a late start time.
― human life won't become a cat (man alive), Friday, 25 March 2016 15:00 (eight years ago) link
there were maybe like 60 or 70 ppl at the show last night. they went on at 10:15.
― dc, Friday, 25 March 2016 15:04 (eight years ago) link
anti-prog press has poisoned listeners to this type of stuff too
― reggie (qualmsley), Friday, 25 March 2016 15:14 (eight years ago) link
yeah sounding like genesis is not cool in 2016
― ciderpress, Friday, 25 March 2016 16:53 (eight years ago) link
or roxy music or XTC really, which is way too bad
― reggie (qualmsley), Friday, 25 March 2016 18:07 (eight years ago) link
Which is also super-weird, because my teenage kids and all their friends are really into Roxy Music. You could make a million dollars if you were a young Ferry soundalike right now, I'd-a thought.
― hardcore dilettante, Friday, 25 March 2016 18:13 (eight years ago) link
The band isn't getting enough attention for this album, which is excellent, but they've never really been a big thing in the US even when they were kinda buzzy a decade ago.
Disappointed is so great and I finally figured out what song it reminds me of: Love at First Sight by XTC
― thom yorke state of mind (voodoo chili), Friday, 25 March 2016 18:17 (eight years ago) link
I don't really hear the Roxy Music parallels
― thom yorke state of mind (voodoo chili), Friday, 25 March 2016 18:18 (eight years ago) link
roxy music + gentle giant x XTC = fairly solid description imho. they've got the funk
― reggie (qualmsley), Friday, 25 March 2016 18:30 (eight years ago) link
great show! one brother had a huge grin on his face the whole time, playing drums or guitar
― reggie (qualmsley), Saturday, 26 March 2016 13:33 (eight years ago) link
I think it's hard to sell a band in their age category to younger fans when the band isn't either pretending to be younger or one of those name-dropped "influential"/cult bands
― human life won't become a cat (man alive), Sunday, 27 March 2016 00:50 (eight years ago) link
Show at NYC was really good, love how they kept switching drums and guitar--banter was funny too
― thom yorke state of mind (voodoo chili), Sunday, 27 March 2016 04:49 (eight years ago) link
i was bummed they didn't do "a new town" in philly to give the bass player a little shine but man, what a show! no fucks to give, just song after great song
― reggie (qualmsley), Sunday, 27 March 2016 16:56 (eight years ago) link
I think this band hits a nerve for me because they're roughly the same age as me and sound closer than any band to the band I've had in my head for the past few years.
― human life won't become a cat (man alive), Monday, 28 March 2016 03:58 (eight years ago) link
Album is still so good.
― I know hoes that know Ali Farka Toure (voodoo chili), Saturday, 15 October 2016 04:42 (seven years ago) link
Been loving But Not For You lately
― I know hoes that know Ali Farka Toure (voodoo chili), Saturday, 15 October 2016 04:43 (seven years ago) link
I don't know much about this band but 'Disappointed (Ewan Pearson Extended Mix)' is such fun.
https://soundcloud.com/memphisindustries/field-music-disappointed-ewan-pearson-extended-mix/
― Noel Emits, Saturday, 15 October 2016 07:52 (seven years ago) link
i like the new record
― maura, Friday, 2 February 2018 14:40 (six years ago) link
My copy arrived this afternoon, now playing. Oh how I love this band.
― mike t-diva, Friday, 2 February 2018 14:51 (six years ago) link
Yeah, I consistently really enjoy these guys.
FWIW Time in Joy kind of sounds like Siberian Khartu
― IF (Terrorist) Yes, Explain (man alive), Friday, 2 February 2018 16:05 (six years ago) link
this is great. love these guys. last two songs on the album are next-level symphonic
― reggie (qualmsley), Saturday, 3 February 2018 16:45 (six years ago) link
I haven't heard it yet, but their last one ended up being my least favourite album of theirs.
― Full of bile and Blue Nile denial (Turrican), Saturday, 3 February 2018 17:26 (six years ago) link
I have only half heard this, and it seems incredibly good so far.
― calzino, Saturday, 3 February 2018 17:28 (six years ago) link
i have listened to this once and altho i try to give any album time, especially when the band in question has earned that with their prior output, i will note that i am contemplating staying at work overnight so i don't have to listen to this again on the commute home.
― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 14 February 2018 15:54 (six years ago) link
While I wouldn't go that far, I was similarly nonplussed
― imago, Wednesday, 14 February 2018 15:55 (six years ago) link
The Noisy Days Are Over and Disappointed was an awesome way to start an album but to rest of Commontime was drudgery and that seems to have spilt over into this
― imago, Wednesday, 14 February 2018 15:56 (six years ago) link
Measure still their best by miles obv
― imago, Wednesday, 14 February 2018 15:57 (six years ago) link
it's no week that was but what is?
― reggie (qualmsley), Wednesday, 14 February 2018 18:02 (six years ago) link
I really dig it - too many gauzy dreamy numbers but the ones that are sharp are sharp. It reminds me of Wasp Star but with more charm.
― bumbling my way toward the light or wahtever (hardcore dilettante), Thursday, 8 March 2018 00:45 (six years ago) link
Okay, so it turns out that Open Here is their best album yet. I tried to recall the last time a Field Music LP blew me away this much and I realised none of their prior work has, not even Tones of Town. Quite remarkable, since Commontime bored me.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Tuesday, 29 May 2018 20:56 (five years ago) link
Open Here > Tones of Town > Plumb> Commontime > Field Music > Measure
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Saturday, 25 August 2018 19:16 (five years ago) link
such is the wonderful variety of ilx that I would pretty much reverse those arrows
― imago, Saturday, 25 August 2018 20:28 (five years ago) link
Curious to hear why your prefer Open Here to Commontime, turrican
― guardians of the gums: i am tooth (voodoo chili), Saturday, 25 August 2018 20:36 (five years ago) link
The first and last tracks on Open Here blow pretty much everything on Commontime out of the water, IMO.
Measure is overlong, riddled with filler and a slog, but there's a great record in there somewhere. One of 'em has to come last, though.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Saturday, 25 August 2018 21:28 (five years ago) link
(I've since come around to a fair bit of Commontime - 'The Noisy Days are Over' and 'Trouble at the Lights' particularly)
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Saturday, 25 August 2018 21:31 (five years ago) link
First listen to Making a New World. I’m ... not sure ... about it. I think it feels shorter than it is, which is a good sign.
― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Tuesday, 14 January 2020 02:03 (four years ago) link
Haven't picked it up yet but probably will do once payday rolls around.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, 14 January 2020 14:59 (four years ago) link
From a commission and all about the aftermath of the first world war, isn't it?
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, 14 January 2020 15:00 (four years ago) link
I do wonder why Field Music have faded so much. I think they maybe grew too obsessed with working on a single sound, and they've worked the life out of it
― opden gnash (imago), Tuesday, 14 January 2020 15:57 (four years ago) link
I'm sort of annoyed such a bunch of nitwits have taken the title from a Paul Nash masterpiece, which is a really beautiful haunted title as well as a painting - which I can't imagine their music matching the gravitas of tbh!
― calzino, Tuesday, 14 January 2020 16:05 (four years ago) link
Might be the first time Field Music have been described as “such a bunch of nitwits.”
― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Wednesday, 15 January 2020 11:46 (four years ago) link
probably melt cunts as well!
― opden gnash (imago), Wednesday, 15 January 2020 11:54 (four years ago) link
they most likely are led-by-donkieys type feebs that became radicalised by threat of austerity finishing off 6 music!
― calzino, Wednesday, 15 January 2020 12:09 (four years ago) link