The Field Mice were the first major Sarah Records-based band of the twee pop era. They debuted in 1988 with "Emma's House", which failed to establish the band among critics in spite of becoming an underground hit (1988 in music). "Sensitive" and So Said Kay (an EP) expanded their fanbase while also garnering some critical attention.
With their sales making the Field Mice the premier band of the cult label Sarah Records, they released a series of singles before a compilation album, Coastal, was released in 1991 (1991 in music). For Keeps , their only all-original LP, came out the same year, which ended with a show in Glasgow that ended in violence between the band members, and the Field Mice split up.
Later, Field Mice members Robert Wratten, Annemari Davies, and Mark Dobson briefly formed Northern Picture Library. After this, Robert Wratten formed Trembling Blue Stars as a solo project.