musicforthemonth.com » Fairport Convention and other guys from the late ‘60s English-folk scene http://musicforthemonth.com Just great music. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:34:49 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Midlake – The Courage of Others http://musicforthemonth.com/2010/02/05/midlake-%e2%80%93-the-courage-of-others/ http://musicforthemonth.com/2010/02/05/midlake-%e2%80%93-the-courage-of-others/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:46:21 +0000 Laughing Dog http://musicforthemonth.com/?p=811 midlake
Like other contemporary bands – Fleet Foxes, Bon Hiver etc. Midlake have, I believe, attempted to bring a sense of awe, a sense of beauty, a sense of good old fashioned song writing into their third album. It’s a very simplistic affair with slow arrangements, unassuming vocals and a minimalist air to proceedings – and I like it very much.

The Trials of Van Occupanther (2006), was one of the albums that you buy, listen to a few times then kinda forget about (except for Roscoe of course) so when I heard that they had a new album out I wasn’t too bothered and did not plan to buy. I then read Andy Gill’s five star review and thought mmm maybe I’m missing something here. I replayed Trials remembered why I’d liked it and bought The Courage of Others and I am very glad I did – thanks Andy.

While Trials is more keyboard based with influences of Fleetwood Mac screaming at you, this album recalls for me the sound of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention and other guys from the late ’60s English-folk scene as Tim Smith displays an understanding of this and how to make it sound and feel more modern and more accessible to us young ‘uns.

Recommended to all who like the sound of dew drops falling from a misty winter’s sky

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