With “You Guys Are Gonna Wake Up My Mom” Field Mouse (@fieldmousemusic) (Small Plates Records) delivers waves of atmospheric, shoegazy pop, imposing a dream-like state on even the most hyped up, caffeinated music fan. The ethereal and detached vocals of lead singer Rachel Browne are brought to life by the distorted, intricately woven guitars that lock into a tight, rhythmic pattern, providing a solid base for the song to develop. And develop it does. Each verse begins simply, focusing on a bass driven melody and a basic guitar harmony, but during the chorus, the track grows huge enough to fill an arena. Showcasing the band’s impressive, dynamic range, the musical tension builds throughout, eventually exploding with an in-your-face wall of sound — huge crash symbols, synths and impressive back up vocals.
Despite the hazy vocals and distorted guitars, it’s not necessarily fair to categorize Field Mouse as an exclusively dreampop band. Where similar artsits like M83 err on the side of dancey and electronic, Field Mouse has an undeniably pop punk influence — a trait that makes “You Guys Are Gonna Wake Up My Mom” at once catchy and accessible with a definite air of mystery. Browne’s acerbic lyrics bite into the listener in the sweetest way possible (“All the time I should have spent alone, I spent it with you”), and she reminisces with a somewhat bitter but relatable nostalgia.