Measure can be described as being the metamorphosis that translates Field Music’s born again status. Ambitious as it sounds, it locks itself into a pop compendium, which has always been a strong suit in the past.
The Brewis brothers opt for distinctive texture of sampled acoustic guitar. Measure--a sprawling gem of album-- is full of such inspired decisions.
Let’s quickly recap. Field Music released their debut album in 2005, a compilation of earlier songs and B-sides in 2006, and then declared a hiatus following the release of their second proper full length in 2007. Co-frontmen Peter and David Brewis each released an album with their own projects in 2008 and met touring commitments for the support of those projects, then reconvened last year to write and record their newest album, Field Music (Measure). So where exactly was the hiatus?
When Field Music announced in 2007 the group was going on hiatus, the band stressed that the break was not a break up. In the ensuing months, brothers David and Peter Brewis kept working-- the former as School of Language and the latter as the Week That Was-- each occasionally enlisting the services of the other. And now, a couple of years later, Field Music have indeed reunited (albeit minus keyboard/utility player Andrew Moore, reportedly training to be a chef). You've got to love a band that stays true to its word.
1 | In the Mirror 4:07 | 83 |
2 | Them That Do Nothing 3:08 | 78 |
3 | Each Time Is a New Time 3:23 | 82 |
4 | Measure 2:58 | 79 |
5 | Effortlessly 3:55 | 77 |
6 | Clear Water 3:16 | 78 |
7 | Lights Up 3:57 | 73 |
8 | All You'd Ever Need to Say 2:36 | 76 |
9 | Let's Write a Book 3:40 | 76 |
10 | You and I 3:15 | 74 |
11 | The Rest Is Noise 3:31 | 77 |
12 | Curves of the Needle 3:51 | 71 |
13 | Choosing Numbers 2:02 | 58 |
14 | The Wheels Are in Place 2:55 | 74 |
15 | First Come the Wish 2:28 | 71 |
16 | Precious Plans 2:50 | 70 |
17 | See You Later 2:34 | 66 |
18 | Something Familiar 3:45 | 70 |
19 | Share the Words 3:48 | 73 |
20 | It's About Time 9:49 | 54 |