Hiatus Never Means Having to Say You’re Sorry: The Return of Field Music Imminent!

No matter what anyone tells you, there are only two possible outcomes when bands split up: 1. One part of the group becomes arena-selling megastars while the other part(s) withers and dies from talent/attention envy, and 2. All parties soldier on releasing terrible records on their own, stubbornly refusing to admit that despite wanting to bludgeon their former bandmate(s) nightly, they can't possibly survive without the healthy competition and creative collaboration their union once provided. Those are the two split scenarios. There are no others.

Acts going on hiatus are a trickier breed to classify. Often a "hiatus" is just another way to say "we need to see other people... permanently" or "we're really splitting up but we don't want to hurt your feelings." So it was with great trepidation that lovers of Sunderland's Field Music first read that their heroes were taking a break from playing and recording together some two-and-a-half years ago. Unexpectedly, but not overly surprising given the members' talents as songsmiths, both David and Peter Brewis stepped up large by releasing killer albums through their non-Field Music projects in the interim -- Peter with his self-titled masterclass The Week That Was and David with Sea from Shore (TMT Review) by his School of Language project.

The sheer amount of reunion shows and "comin'-out-of-retirement" bullshit means most semi-splits are never permanent and Field Music kept the promise they made to return by announcing that they have resumed activities under the Field Music banner and have a 20-track DOUBLE album coming out in the new year. If you're excited now, try not to blow your load too early. If you're not excited, you'll have time to plan your eruption. Measure is due February 16, 2010, a Tuesday, on Memphis Industries/Revolver.

Measure:

1. In the Mirror
2. Them That Do Nothing
3. Each Time Is a New Time
4. Measure
5. Effortlessly
6. Clear Water
7. Lights Up
8. All You'd Ever Need to Say
9. Let's Write a Book
10. You and I
11. The Rest Is Noise
12. Curves of the Needle
13. Choose Numbers
14. The Wheels Are in Place
15. First Come the Wish
16. Precious Plans
17. See You Later
18. Something Familiar
19. Share the Words
20. It's About Time

There will be a full tour announced closer to Measure's release date but the Brothers Brewis will play two U.S. dates at the beginning of December, bookended by shows in the U.K

11.13.09 - Liverpool, England - The Bumper
11.19.09 - Manchester, England - Deaf Institute
11.21.09 - Glasgow, Scotland - Captains Rest
11.22.09 - Edinburgh, Scotland - Sneaky Pete's
11.27.09 - Newcastle, England - The Cluny
11.28.09 - Newcastle, England - The Cluny
12.03.09 - Brooklyn, NY - The Bell House
12.05.09 - Chicago, IL - The Beat Kitchen
01.07.10 - London, England - Hoxton Bar & Grill

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