(Thrill Jockey) www.thrilljockey.com

If there’s a problem with England’s crisp pop trio Field Music, it’s that the songs feel repetitive awfully quick. Enter School of Language, the solo outlet for Field Music’s David Brewis to pursue clatters of percussion and stabs of dissonance while still attacking breathy pop with a healthy vigor. On Sea From Shore, the formula is constantly changing, making for a bumpy ride that’s more exciting than Field Music’s insular sharpness. Some of the Futureheads guest on a few songs, but for the most part, everything here is whipped up by Brewis alone. There’s a quartet of songs called “Rockist” that’s at once rubbery and taut, capping the album with the busy finale “Rockist Part 4.” “Extended Holiday” resembles a hyperactive child fidgeting at his desk and “Disappointment ’99” leads the way to thundering glory, all of which make for a percussive, studio-happy feat of songwriting on Brewis’ part.

Standout Tracks: “Rockist Part 4,” “Disappointment ‘99” DOUG WALLEN