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Bob Wratten's old band *The Field Mice always had something that set them aside from their contemporaries, and though they, as with TBS*, were perennial underachievers, their place in cultdom is assured.
The 'Bathed In Blue' EP is something of a companion piece to their fifth album 'Seven Autumn Flowers', featuring as it does two re-interpretations of one of the finest tracks from that record 'The Sea Is So Quiet'.
It's one of the most pop-oriented songs they've put together in a while, reminiscent of New Order in parts, yet with the obligatory washes of ethereal guitar and atmospheric. It's a joy, and repeated listens bring out wonderful flourishes such as the wry lyric 'The world is a place of good deeds'.
Later tunes on this six-tracker display a return to more traditional Blue Stars territory; plenty of pindrop quietness, repetitive, loopng sound and barely audible, but always beautiful vocals.
Fans of Low, Red House Painters et al who've never checked out this band or even The Field Mice would do well to muster the price of purchase for this warm, wonderful record.
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9's Score
