Album Of The Week: Field Mouse’s Hold Still Life

I’ve noticed bands dabbling in the style of shoegaze lately. An excellent example of this phenomenon is Field Mouse from Brooklyn — that melting pot of creativity. This gothic fuzz pop quartet have an album titled Hold Still Life out this week and it’s quite a jewel from the independent underground. Imagine if Depeche Mode, Blood Red Shoes, Jesus & The Mary Chain and The Cranberries melded together. Field Mouse is the closest thing to that.

Field Mouse has a British alternative rock influence, separated from the norm by Rachel Browne’s exquisite voice giving a velvet sheen to the rigid tones. The album was self-produced with Kyle Gilbride from Philly act Swearin’ on mixing duties. The tracks form pictures in your mind and as the album goes along, a story influenced by the fast-paced lifestyle of living in The Big Apple unfolds. The emphasis of the guitars give Field Mouse’s sound a lot of energy.

As we approach the dreaded dog days of summer it’s important to cool off and relax. Do both by listening to the top tracks off my album of the week. Best with a refreshing beverage in hand, they’ll show you what’s good without making you break a sweat.

The opening number, “A Place You Return To In A Dream,” starts with monster bass licks and chords that display the beauty in simplicity. Old-school new wave with a nice edge, “Two Ships” makes you believe you’re in an ’80s discotheque when the synth kicks in. Deep and dark tones are abundant in “Happy.” This one rocks with reckless abandon and takes the amplification to a whole new level.

You can check out Field Mouse at Great Scott in Allston, Mass., on August 10, and they’ll be doing spectacular tour of the midwest and southeast United States in September with Prawn, Diamond Youth and A Great Big Pile Of Leaves. Hopefully they’ll come through Providence soon, but until then grab a copy of Field Mouse’s new album Hold Still Life. It’s another one of those awesome albums by a band you might not know much about, but pressing play could make you a fan.

Field Mouse’s website:  fieldmousemusic.com