Music: Field Music
Band of brothers
Brothers Peter and Dave Brewis have been releasing albums under the Field Music moniker for nearly 10 years now, and their fourth album Plumb has just been nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize, the annual award given to albums of artistic distinction. “In terms of the future, I don’t know. I don’t know how much of a difference it will make,” says older brother Peter. “But it’s really nice to be nominated! I’m 35, and I’ve been following the Mercury Prize since Day One, and I’ve liked a lot of the stuff that has been nominated. It’s just as well that the judges decide based on the merits of an album rather than its sales…
“It couldn’t bring us fame and fortune, we don’t make that kind of music. We’re just interested in making albums and playing live; we know we’re not going to win it. In a few months’ time most people will have forgotten. But I won’t forget it! I’ll mention it on my CV when I finally venture out and get a real job. If we win, I will believe in Father Christmas.”
Down-to-earth, self-deprecating, and somewhat of an unlikely indie pin-up group, David and Peter have nevertheless been making some of the most interesting, progressive and yet melodic music over the course of their four studio albums, all of which could have been nominated for the Mercury, their quality is that consistent. And as standard bearers of a DIY music making culture, they exert a lot of control over their music, down to the artwork, directing the videos and managing their own tours.
But whilst their outlook is DIY, the results are anything but; The Beatles being a particular influence. “They always looked beyond pop and rock music to make something new and different. When we first started, I was into them and The Neptunes, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, and a lot of Ellington, Coleman and Coltrane.” It’s this cross-pollination of influences that shaped their sound as well as their name. “When we made the first album we didn’t have a name for the band, and we figured we would release it ourselves before our label picked it up. We were going to call the album ‘Field Music’, the idea being the album was made up of all the different strands of music we like, like a collage. We weren’t afraid to stick our influences in there.”
As Field Music, the brothers have continued the very close relationship that preceded their making music. “It was an extension of ourselves playing other things like computer games and writing basic computer programmes; music was another way for me and Dave to play together, although it seems to have gotten out of hand – we talk a common language, and we can tell when someone is not that keen on something. I think he’s alright, I don’t mind hanging out together!”
Field Music, The Haunt, Thursday 18 October, 7pm, £10
