5.

Field Music – Measure

Field Music are the kind of band that don’t inspire me, in as much as they don’t inspire me to pick up a guitar again – they make me realise there’s no point. No matter how much time I put in, I’ll never be able to get anywhere near their inventiveness and dexterity. David and Peter Brewis are not only two of the best guitarists in Britain – they’re also two of the best drummers, songwriters and producers as well.

I got into them around their Tones Of Town album which is like their Beatles album, with perhaps a bit of Genesis thrown in for good measure. ‘She Can Do What She Wants’ is perfect pop music and ‘A Gap Has Appeared’ is two minutes of unbridled prog-pop genius. After this, they weren’t even sure if there would be another album, but thankfully there was Measure, their most accomplished work to date. It’s a masterpiece. It sounds like it was recorded on a huge budget with Todd Rundgren producing. It wasn’t, however – it was just Pete and David in their own studio in Sunderland. From start to finish, this is a flawless modern band showing their talents and influences.

They’re on hiatus now, and I don’t know exactly what that means. I know Peter and his missus Jen are expecting a baby in March, and when I teamed Matt Friedberger and David up for a recent session for my programme there was talk of them forming a band together. That’ll be mind-blowing. I told David I’d want to be their roadie if they get the band together and tour. He said, ‘Well, we will be needing a bass player…’ Ha… No chance. Not in a million years will I put myself between two musicians I reckon are absolutely worthy of the title genius. I’ll be happy carrying their amps.