The Week That Was - The Week That Was
Part pastiche, part politicised social commentary taken from the mind of the slightly eccentric Sunderland man.
From the ashes of Field Music emerges The Week That Was with an album that is almost as refreshing as the aforementioned forefathers. Almost an auteur piece from Field Music's Peter Brewis, the album is part pastiche, part politicised social commentary taken from the mind of the slightly eccentric Sunderland man.
Taking inspiration from, and paying homage to, the great innovators of the 1980s - from Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel, through Echo And the Bunnymen to Japan - the album is at once nostalgic and reassuringly new. If one word of warning should be heeded, it is the fact that here lies a concept album first and foremost, and therefore should be listened to as such; overbearing conversation will ruin the experience, as it is the subtle nuances that make this such a treat.
Opener 'Learn To Learn' reveals the intentions of the band, with a Bush-esque drum introduction that sets up a staccato number that suggests pantomime as much as Abbey Road. 'Airport Line' provides the first track with unquestionable mainstream appeal, twinkling piano chords juxtaposed with a prog rock beat that would make Phil Collins sit up and listen, before harmonising strings descend to make the whole thing sound like the closing credits to an art film paying respect to the oeuvre of John Hughes.
The stand out track on the disc is arguably 'Scratch The Surface', the single released in June this year. A faux 80s prog-rock beat belies the complexity of the musical arrangements, creating a successful amalgamation of instantly recognisable rhythm with well timed and conceived chorus/verse/interlude patterns that all come together to create a sound describable as 'the thinking man's pop'.
Whilst The Week That Was may not appeal to everyone, it should easily succeed in making people talk about it, which ultimately is the best thing an album of this kind could hope for in an age of cookie-cutter productions and dull-as-ditchwater performers. If you have any desire to expand your musical horizons and investigate new paths, then you could do a lot worse than this album.
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