Known for their inventive chamber pop, Britain's
Field Music
continue to evolve on their ninth effort, the relaxed yet endlessly surprising
Flat White Moon
. The album follows their ambitious and quirky 2020 historical concept album
Making a New World
, in which they explored how society changed in the wake of the First World War. Less concept-driven if no less evocative,
finds them further embracing their love of vintage pop styles from the '60 to the '80s. Again showcasing the combined talents of bandmates and siblings
David
and
Peter Brewis
,
is easily one of the duo's most expertly produced efforts, rife with a deep analog warmth that shimmers with a vinyl texture. There's always a sense that
are drawing upon their many influences, borrowing guitar and keyboard sounds as well as minor lyrical and rhythmic hooks that feel plucked out of their record collection. It's an approach that often starts the listener itching to figure out what any given song reminds them of, but one which never feels too indebted to any one artist or era. Certainly, artists come to mind, as on the proggy "Not When You're in Love," where the circular piano riff and off-kilter percussion bring to mind
Genesis
. There's also "In This City" which sounds like the more pop-leaning end of
Yes
. Similarly, the bass-heavy "No Pressure" sounds improbably (and pleasingly) like a
Todd Rundgren
song if sung by
Chicago
's
Peter Cetera
. There's also an artful sincerity to
's songs that feel personal yet character-driven, as if they were written for a musical. The poignant "When You Last Heard from Linda" is just that sort of song; folky and marked by a warm cello part, it plays like a sung letter addressed to someone struggling with the end of a relationship. We also get the driving "Out of the Frame," where the sparkling dual guitar leads mask the song's darker themes of loneliness and how seeing an old photograph can leave us feeling the weight of the passing of time. Full of smart nods to their pop inspirations,
is a poetic and beautifully realized production. ~ Matt Collar