Description
2025 reissue, 12″ LP, Midlake Records. Opaque Marigold vinyl. Ltd to 750.
Imagine a blend of Henry David Thoreau and Neil Young’s ‘After the Gold Rush’, with a touch of Laurel Canyon introspection and a yearning for something just beyond reach and you’re close to the essence of Midlake’s breakthrough album. Wistful melodies and enigmatic narratives make for a sonic landscape pitched somewhere between 1871, 1971 and a realm entirely out of time. Tracks like ‘Roscoe’ and ‘Bandits’ shimmer with a romantic yearning for simpler times, while ‘Head Home’ and ‘Van Occupanther’ delve into the introspective musings of outcasts and dreamers. Its instrumentation is rich and varied, with dreamy horns, rolling guitars and plaintive pianos weaving a tapestry of sound that perfectly complements the elusive narratives. ‘Young Bride’, ‘Branches’, and ‘In This Camp’ showcase the band’s vocal harmonies and their ability to craft melodies that linger long after the music fades.