The Week That Was - ‘The Week That Was (Memphis Industries)
4/5
By: Michael Cragg
BUY DOWNLOADNow, I've never been in a band so I don't know what it feels like when one splits up, but I'd imagine it's quite painful and complicated. Throw into the mix the fact that the other member of the band is your brother and things get very strange indeed. Factor into that little melange the idea that the two brothers will then go on to form other bands but that each brother contributes to each new band and you have a fairly complex web of band-lead musical chairs. The original band in question here is Field Music, the core of which consisted of brothers David and Peter Brewis, and who released two albums of melodic guitar pop before ending the band to concentrate on things that weren't classed as "Field Music indie band". Confusing, huh?
David Brewis was first out of the traps with an album released in February this year under the moniker, School of Language, an album that featured his brother Peter. Not to be out done, Peter has formed The Week That Was and this is their debut album. Whilst Field Music were never too far from a great melody, The Week That Was, whilst not eschewing immediacy altogether, is perhaps not as immediate or obvious.
Songs seem to be built around the drums, as on opener 'Learn To Love', which somehow replicates that cascading drum sound form Kate Bush's 'Hounds of Love' and forms a song around it. In fact, the spectre of Kate Bush and the eighties more generally, raises its head on more then one occasion throughout the album, her knack of mixing a great ear for a tune with sonic adventure a recurring factor. Plus, there's a tenuous concept to the album, something to do with an attempt to live without the media for a week. Highlights come thick and fast during an album that barely lasts half an hour, from the string-drenched 'The Airport Line' to the near seven minutes of 'Yesterday's Paper'.
The Brewis brothers have since claimed that Field Music will be back for another album in the not so distant future, once they've got their new bands out of their respective systems. At this rate said album could be very special indeed, especially if The Week That Was is anything to go by. Proof that you don't have to feel restricted by one idea and that if you want to try your hand at something different then just do it. Just don't expect the results to always be this good.
Artists in this article: The Week That Was
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