Commontime
Over the past four years, North-East siblings Peter and David Brewis have threaded their way through one extra-curricular project after another but were inevitably drawn back to working together on their own songs. "As much fun as we might have had on our own or collaborating, we missed just spending time in the studio, the two of us, trying things out and playing together." explains David. The space that Field Music vacated in those four years still appears to be empty. No one else really does what Field Music do: the interweaving vocals, the rhythmic gear changes, the slightly off-chords, but with the sensibility that keeps them within touching distance of pop music. But with Commontime, Field Music show off their unashamed love of choruses in a way they’ve only hinted at before. Written and recorded in spontaneous bursts over six months in their Wearside studio, Commontime is built around the brothers playing and singing together again, but also features a wider array of players, including original Field Music keyboardist Andrew Moore, Peter's wife Jennie Brewis and new member of the live band Liz Corney on vocals, plus a panoply of other players. “We wanted to embrace being a duo and, perversely, that made us feel more comfortable about all of those conspicuous cameos” reveals David. Over the fourteen songs of Commontime, real life conversations are replayed, acquaintances come and go, hard won friendships are left to drift and diffuse snap shots of the everyday are pulled together into what must rank amongst Field Music’s best works to date.
Alternately slick and herky-jerky in its delivery, Field Music's sixth full-length plays like post-punk Steely Dan—jazzy, elegant, and ultimately satisfying, but not always in the ways you expect or necessarily want.
Field Music plough their unique furrow on 6th album Commontime: a record that could have been destined for greatness.
In the end, this is an album with a whimsical construct that fails to live up to its musical promise.
Download: The Noisy Days Are Over; Disappointed; They Want You To Remember; The Morning Is Waiting
Despite all the solo and collaborative projects they work on separately, but mostly together, they always come back to Field Music.
Commontime sees the Brewis brothers reincorporate original keyboardist Andrew Moore, but a lack of diversity makes for overly comfortable listening.
Field Music, the musical collaboration of brothers Peter and David Brewis, are known for getting their hands into numerous other projects.
Field Music's relatively minor status in the world of pop is surprising. Since their inception in 2004 they've put out some excellent material,
The Sunderland temper their usual spiky fare with post-fatherhood wistfulness on album No 6
The Brewis brothers’ sixth album of intricate, thoughtful songs is worthy of all the praise they continue to attract