Field Music

Field Music's 2005 debut LP reprinted on heavyweight blue vinyl with download code. At the time, the band listed an array of apposite and conflicting influences (The Left Banke, My Bloody Valentine, Stravinsky, Thelonious Monk, Stax & Atlantic R&B, Big Star, Jimmy Smith, Serge Gainsbourg, The Neptunes and Duke Ellington) but listening back now, you can hear that Field Music’s own distinct sound arrived fully formed.

Sunderland band shares a family tree with Futureheads and Maxïmo Park but plays buzzing indie pop rather than herky-jerky post-punk.

At least a dozen bands have been compared to XTC during the recent post-punk revival, but UK trio Field Music has a specific XTC fetish, stealing from the band what XTC stole from Steve Reich. Field Music's self-titled debut album delights in reducing pop songs to a few simple elements, then combining and recombining…

Field Music are a trio of northern lads who work a rich seam of melodic and angular guitar with indie pop arrangements on their excellent self-titled debut record.

It usually feels reductionist and unfair to get down on a band just for being part of a specific scene.