Field Music--Tones of Town

In a quick 1-2-3 of releases, Field Music shipped out their self-titled debut in 2005, sophomore effort Write Your Own History in 2006, and now Tones of Town in 2007. Hailing from Sunderland, England, Field Music combine silly English-derived indie with a mellow brand of easy-going orchestral and chamber stylings. The result: a horribly mellow Futureheads, with a violin instead of a guitar. Intriguing? Very much so. From the very opening of "Give It Lose It Take It" Field Music becomes elusive to wrap with a description, as their flowing harmonic melodies almost hypnotize your ears from making snap judgments or comparisons. The namesake track "Tones of Town" shows off its album-naming worthiness with up-beat and sunny melodies, and "A House Is Not A Home" finds Field Music’s vocals – a fast-paced attack of British accents that sound strongly of The Futureheads – melding with classic guitar riffs and orchestral effects that could have been taken straight from The Beatles. The combination may raise eyebrows, but works wonderfully. The album runs to its end, but not before "A Gap Has Appeared" pumps the speakers full of sorrowful and reflective orchestral sounds, blending into a delicious soft-edged pop piece. Field Music blend influences very well in Tones of Town, and utilizes their mellow orchestral instrumentals beautifully. For a lazy sunny day – even in gray January – pop Tones of Town in.

(Published at ComfortComes.com)