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IFLTS: 'Working to Work,' Field Music

'Working to Work,' Field Music
From 2007's 'Tones of Town'

Although the alphabet dictates that XTC and Yes sit side by side in many record collections (those belonging to non-Yardbirds and Yazoo fans, anyway), the British rockers make for unlikely neighbors. In 1978, XTC debuted with their 'White Music' album, full of jagged guitar riffs and frenetic vocals that would later become known as "indie rock." Meanwhile, Yes -- their prog-rock prime behind them -- released their high-minded and high-pitched last-gasp single, 'Don't Kill the Whale.'

On Field Music's 'Tones of Town' album (and, yep, I recommend the whole thing), the 21st-century British rockers dare to bring the two sounds together. The album's pocket rock opera, 'Working to Work,' packs dozens of call-and-response mini-movements into its svelte three minutes. Equal parts 'Long Distance Runaround' and 'General and Majors,' the song blends the lofty falsetto vocals with steam-engine guitar blasts . . . and darn if they don't go together beautifully.

Nobody was less punk rock than Yes vocalist Jon Anderson -- in fact, many angry young men formed punk bands as a reaction to guys like Jon Anderson. But now, thirty years later, Field Music sublimely answer the unasked question, "What if they had just asked him to sing along?"

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dude

Beatles is legend ....

October 18 2007 at 6:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dude

mike - yes like a beatles : )

August 08 2007 at 4:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
HeyJude

http://www.field-music.co.uk/home.html

July 29 2007 at 12:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tomek

do you know theirs official web-site?

July 26 2007 at 6:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
slimdave420

Sounds a little like the Beatles to me.

March 24 2007 at 11:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mike

For life of me can't figure why these guys are not catching fire quicker. Lucky 'enuf to have copped tix to upcoming NOT SOLD OUT cabaret / bar show in Philly. Pop music lovers 'round here should get their heads out of their butts and smell the flowers.

March 24 2007 at 3:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael

But the thing is that it may likes the other peoples too. Any guess why??

March 22 2007 at 6:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Will B

I heard there was a line around the block at their SXSW show at Beauty Bar.

March 21 2007 at 7:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply