Field Mouse - Episodic album review: expanded line-up, wider vision

A few years ago, Philadelphia-Brooklyn’s Field Mouse was a rip-it-up two-piece; founding members Rachel Browne and Andrew Futral did it themselves, self-recording and self-financing as they made the trip from newbies to fully-fledged unit.

Two years after their debut, Hold Still Life, the band has expanded to include Browne's younger sister Zoe as well as musicians Tim McCoy and Saysha Heinzman. As if to bolster the band's sound even further, Episodic features guests (including Joseph D'Agostino from Cymbals Eat Guitars, and Sadie Dupuis from Speedy Ortiz). What transpires from such a mixture is a progressive record that highlights intelligent lyrics (themes cover relationship breakdown and family illness) and inventive approaches to enthusiastic, melodic guitar pop.

Ten pitch-perfect songs, coming in at just over 30 minutes? Way to go. fieldmousemusic.com