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Product Description
Review
A new Field Music album is always a delicious proposition – and this, the band's fourth, offers much to sate the appetite. Off-kilter song structures, a rhythm section reminiscent of the kitchen drawer being emptied at the top of the stairs, and frequent homage paid to the protagonists of new wave all characterise the approach of Sunderland brothers Peter and David Brewis throughout Plumb.
The pair recently joked that the band had become more multicultural – Peter's moved up to Newcastle and their new bassist, Andrew Lowther, has a season ticket at St James' Park. But Field Music's endearingly weird Wearside aesthetic remains in place. Plumb ploughs furrows that the band and its listeners have explored together before. As Loyd Grossman might intone: "The asymmetric pop, the slinky sing-alongs, the noirish noises..." All are present and correct.
If anything the brothers have upped the wonk factor on Plumb: the home-made beats and undersea bubbling on Choosing Sides present a real challenge to your ears. It’s a particularly good example of the fare this lot trade in, its tempo and character shifting like the sands. In comparison, some of the straighter songs can seem a little underwhelming – for example, A Prelude to Pilgrim Street is a decidedly flat glam blowout. But such lacklustre moments are few.
Unusually, Plumb’s final song sounds like it should be its first. First single (I Keep Thinking About) A New Thing is a rousing, pleasing stomp, comprising this album's answer to previous 'hits' such as Effortlessly and In Context. Although there aren't more efforts like this, there is a thread of romantic disappointment which neatly and appealingly runs through the record. On the wonderfully English-sounding Sorry Again, Mate – the song title alone will have Anglophile Americans reaching for Skype to contact someone (anyone) they know across the Pond for some soothing British diction – there are lovely licks of sadness and solitude. "Can I afford another day on my own / Sat in the kitchen with the radio on?" the band asks, forlornly.
This suburban, provincial sweetness – a tasty concoction far removed from the fashion-focussed silliness of London in both geography and intent – is eminently loveable. Not that the Mackem minstrels can't go glitzy. Listen to A New Town. It sounds like a Justin Timberlake track. That alone is a boggling but brilliant statement of intent, wouldn't you say?
--Chris Beanland
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CD Description
For a limited period only both formats, vinyl and CD, come with a FREE bonus live CD. Field Music (a.k.a. Sunderland siblings Peter and David Brewis) release their hugely anticipated fourth album, 'Plumb', through Memphis Industries on 13th February 2012. With 15 tracks crammed into 35 minutes, 'Plumb' remodels the modular, fragmented style of the first two Field Music albums; only now shot through with the surreal abstractions of 20th century film music from Bernstein to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory and with the off-beam funk and pristine synth-rock developed on the brothers' School of Language and The Week That Was albums.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am thoroughly enjoying this latest recording from Indy band Field Music. With harmonisations that bear comparison with the Beatles (several of the songs here make me think of Revolver era tracks from the Fab 4), and a series of quirky and inventive backings that bounce and trip along in an easy going manner that belie their complexity this is an album that bears repeated listening. Lyrically a little downbeat with tales of heartbreak and loss, but done in such a charming and stylish fashion, and with a dry sense of humour that you feel uplifted at the end. Definitley a rather individualist album, thre aren't many people oput there making music like this at the moment. It has a somewhat English feel and sensibility to it, which for me just adds to the pleasure.
A very good listen, one that I would recommend to fans of recent Herman Dune offerings and the like. 5 stars, I am loving it.
A very good listen, one that I would recommend to fans of recent Herman Dune offerings and the like. 5 stars, I am loving it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Cards on the table, I'm a massive Field Music fan and was looking forward to this LP immensely. I don't think I'd have given it 5 stars after the first listen - it's so overwhelmingly complex that only a few songs stood out. It was only after the third listen (not so difficult as it's a bite sized album) that it all began to make sense and now I'm completely hooked. It's like, forget trying to learn to play Field Music songs, they're such musical innovators you need to learn how to listen to them! There's just no-one else out there doing what these boys are doing at the moment. Brilliant album. Think I saw another review compare it to 2nd side of Abbey Road and it does have the same relentless restless quality, one catchy pop hook after another dispensed with almost careless abandon.
I know you shouldn't really feed the trolls but it's odd that both the 1 star reviews happen mention the Mercury Prize. Feels almost like an ill-concieved smear campaign by some other band's junior PR knob end...because I'm sure the Mercury judging panel pay very close attention to the Amazon customer reviews when they make their selections. To be honest I had no idea that Field Music were in contention and much as I'd love them to get a bit more exposure, one gets the feeling that the Brewis Bros would probably be a bit uncomfortable with the whole thing, especially as they've said they're thinking of going on to some more solo projects after this. And as for the fact they both mention 'repetitive' (!) - this album is anything but. The songs so avowedly avoid the traditional verse/chorus/verse/chorus structure that it's a bit like the first time you listen to Love's 'Forever Changes'; hard to get your head around at first but ultimately richly rewarding.
I don't necessarily know if this record would be the best place to be introduced to Field Music - if someone had never heard of the band before I might instead point them towards the compilation of their two solo LPs Field Music: The Week That Was/School Of Language Still amazingly catchy and complex songwriting but each record has a more cohesive sound with not as many stylistic turns.
I know you shouldn't really feed the trolls but it's odd that both the 1 star reviews happen mention the Mercury Prize. Feels almost like an ill-concieved smear campaign by some other band's junior PR knob end...because I'm sure the Mercury judging panel pay very close attention to the Amazon customer reviews when they make their selections. To be honest I had no idea that Field Music were in contention and much as I'd love them to get a bit more exposure, one gets the feeling that the Brewis Bros would probably be a bit uncomfortable with the whole thing, especially as they've said they're thinking of going on to some more solo projects after this. And as for the fact they both mention 'repetitive' (!) - this album is anything but. The songs so avowedly avoid the traditional verse/chorus/verse/chorus structure that it's a bit like the first time you listen to Love's 'Forever Changes'; hard to get your head around at first but ultimately richly rewarding.
I don't necessarily know if this record would be the best place to be introduced to Field Music - if someone had never heard of the band before I might instead point them towards the compilation of their two solo LPs Field Music: The Week That Was/School Of Language Still amazingly catchy and complex songwriting but each record has a more cohesive sound with not as many stylistic turns.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the 4th album by the Brewis brothers, Peter & David , who are based in the North East of England. It has garnered widespread good critical reviews, and crams 15 tracks into just 36 minutes. The overiding comparison for me is with XTC, with intelligent articulate songs with distinctive frequent time changes, sometimes dense production, spikey angular guitar moments interspersed with melodic vocals and some classy arrangements with violins and cello. There is lots to take in, and even after half a dozen listens, new aspects reveal themselves in this fascinating complex smorgasbord. A couple of times 3 or 4 tracks run into each other, and initially you are not clear whether this is still the same track taking a different twist, or a new song. There are a few sound effects, like chiming clock tower bells at the opening of A Prelude to Pilgrim Steet. Choosing Sides starts off with a deep synthesiser refrain that reminds me bizzarely of the alien tune from film Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind. The snippet of track 12, How Many More Times , is just beautiful acapella vocals. Sometimes they seem a bit too clever for their own good, which perhaps alienates the casual listener, and where they keep it simpler , it maybe better. An intriguing collection that repays repeated listening, where the complex arrangements become more familiar. You are drawn into stories behind some of the songs, like being late on frustrating jouneys on Sorry Again Mate; economic pressures of day to day life on Who'll Pay the Bills; and trying to understand complex theories (I keep Thinking About) a New Thing. So wideranging subject matter, standing out as distinct and different from most of the standard pop fodder, but keeping things a bit more staightforward might be even better in the future to appeal to a wider audience.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
'A different idea of what better can be'.
Heard 'New Town' on 6 and tried it out. It's REALLY good. Kind of like a contemporary Gentle Giant but with far nicer clothes. Read more
Published 10 days ago by PMN
Field Music - Plumb
The Sunderland brothers, Peter and David Brewis return with a mix up to their line-up and their fourth studio album. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Serena Doherty
Excellent
Bought this on a whim and haven't stopped listening to it, excellent album and will seek out their past work.
Published 1 month ago by El Pedro
Back to early 70s
Heard good reviews about this album , ,it was like stepping back into time ,to late 60s early 1970s
its a mixture of The Move early Electric Light Orchestra , and Yes , the... Read more
its a mixture of The Move early Electric Light Orchestra , and Yes , the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. Clive Winter
Fantastic as ever
Field Music make fantastic albums and Plumb is no exception. It's not the longest at around 35 minutes but the quality far outshines the quantity. Read more
Published 3 months ago by M. Evans
Takes a few listens but worth it
The always reliable Field Music are back with a great album. Their last album (Measure) was good but a little too long and could do perhaps with a bit of trimming. Read more
Published 3 months ago by RJ Gibson
Not good, please stop this!
What can I say about this album? Well it certainly shows that whatever is played on the radio will be liked by the masses. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mikkyjo
More XTC then Beatles.
Field Music have created their finest album here. The melancholia of lyrics looking back to simpler times is a counterpoint to playful rhythms and fun tunes; clearly they aren't... Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. Pearson
A welcome return.
It takes a while to fully appreciate a Field Music Lp, because of the sheer volume of ideas crammed into it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Big Twink
Poor - Very Poor
I am at a loss with this band. They have been championed for potential mercury prize nominations so I gave this a listen. Read more
Published 3 months ago by leicesterUnsigned
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