Field Music, London Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen

January 7, 2010

Field Music are back, in what just happens to be one of the most anticipated gigs I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending. Having had new album Field Music (Measure) in my hands for a few months now (review to follow), I’m anticipating this set to be transcendental; after playing its 20 tracks repeatedly for weeks, I certifiedly declared it incredible, amazing, brilliant, superb, astonishing and other such extravagances.

Their set at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen tonight however feels like more of an appetite-whetter than the show-stopping event it could be. This isn’t a criticism, more a conscious inevitability drawn from the size of the venue, the timing of the show and the omission of material from the third album that I know (and this is the point, the ‘I’ bit) would leave the uber-fans’ jaws on the floor.
There’s much to be said in how a show as incredible as this feels like a route into the next show, which happens to be a whole lot bigger (Field Music are playing the 800-capacity Scala on March 3). The longer songs (see ‘All You’d Ever Need To Say’) scream for higher ceilings and a larger stage tonight, a space for the ridiculously complex arrangements to expand in.

The opening trio of older songs – ‘Give It, Take It, Lose It’, ‘A House Is Not A Home’ and ‘You Can Decide’ – are whizzed through so frantically and without chat that there’s precious time to take them in. There’s no need for the now four-piece to be so nervous, as they sound even better than ever – the expanded line-up adds muscle to their sound, making passages in ‘Shorter Shorter’ and later, ‘If Only The Moon Were Up’, sound infinitely freer than their het up former selves.

Peter and David Brewis switch between guitar, drums and lead-vocal duties with equal charm, strength and enthusiasm. Field Music’s repertoire live sounds entirely different than on their albums – it’s hard to pin down but the crux is a humanness exposed through flaws invisible on recordings. Watching them smile at each other between the time signatures in ‘Pieces’, from the first album, brings their perfectionism to life.

It’s credit to their strength and consistency that ‘Rockist Pt. 1′ from the School of Language is included in the set, and accordingly received with gratitude. An attentive crowd also seems to take in material from Field Music (Measure) like wide-eyed apprentices.

Closing with ‘Effortlessly’, false endings come and go, leaving the show on the comma that it is. Never have a more versatile band than Field Music existed, and hopefully their next show will bring with it the absolute conviction to push them into the next level.