The Field Mice

City of Origin: London, UK

Period of Activity: Late 80s, early 90s

Members: Robert Wratten, Michael Hiscock, Harvey Williams, Annemari Davies, Mark Dobson

Related Artists: Another Sunny Day, Blueboy, Northern Picture Library, Trembling Blue Stars

Discography (singles/EPs not included):

Social Media: Bandcamp

The Field Mice are one of the relatively biggest names to come out of Sarah Records. At one point, they appeared to be on the cusp of a commercial breakthrough, but they broke up (because of stage-fright!) just as the major labels were about to come calling. It's sort of like that movie, The Commitments, except with more original songs and fewer fistfights.

To me, the best thing about the Field Mice is that they were never particularly interested in fitting into a little indie niche. Wratten was always quite vocal about being more influenced by Factory Records bands like New Order or the Wake than he was by C86-type bands like the Wedding Present or the Bodines, and it comes through in the songs. Most of them appeal to jingly-jangly sensibilities, but there was always an experimental ambition to their songs that was unmatched by their indiepop contemporaries. Like, I challenge you to find a single other band with an album featuring a nine-minute acid house track ("Triangle") and a Revolution 9-esque sound collage ("Humblebee") that would nevertheless fit on this site. I don't think they were always entirely successful at pushing the boundaries of indiepop, but they were always trying, and I have nothing but respect and admiration for the attempt.