Midlake "Antiphon" 2013****

When I went to see Midlake at the Tivoli Oudegracht in Utrecht last year (one of the last concerts at that historic club) I knew they had a new album out but hadn't heard it yet. Neither did I know that their leader and principal singer/songwriter Tim Smith had left the band. I was just a big fan of their masterpiece "The Courage Of Others" - and also quite liked their previous album "The Trials of Van Occupanther". By rights I should be disappointed they played few songs from these albums, but I quite liked their live folk-psych sound. Now, because this can be interpreted as thin or sparse, let me say that it wasn't: the band had a full sound, many instruments and voices playing in unison, sometimes veering into hypnotic psychedelic jams - but, you know, politely. And although the change in style was evident, I didn't quite know if this was just how they sound live or a new musical direction. After hearing the album, one can safely say that this is the new Midlake - or, more accurately, that the medieval English folk of "Courage" was the anomaly in their discography and this is a natural progression from "Van Occupanther". Opener "Antiphon" (Greek for opposite voice) is propelled by semi-funky bass and drums, overlaid by psychedelic organ and dreamy vocal harmonies. "Provider" likewise features a steady beat and trippy 60's guitar and organ, while new singer Pulido's vocals are similarly melodic to that of his predecessor but earthier. On "The Old And The Young" they sound like Coldplay singing over an early Pink Floyd backing track (In Utrecht Midlake disclosed their Floyd influences by covering "Fearless" from Meddle). Far from being as messy as it sounds, it is one of the album's highlights. "It’s Going Down" and "This Weight" are soft rock with beautiful melodic lines and "Vale" is a jazzy instrumental culminating in a short freakout. In a vinyl LP, it'd be a nice way to close Side 1, but at the middle of the CD it's only a distraction. "Aurora Gone" is melodic prog a la Moody Blues, with serene keyboards, flutes and vocals. "Ages" has a 60's West Coast vibe (think Jefferson Airplane at their more balladic) and "Corruption" is an atmospheric, but otherwise weak, track. The album closes with a slow, cinematic reprise of "Provider". I personally could have done without the last two, but that would leave us with just 8 songs and 30 minutes - not enough for the CD era. Although I would have loved a Courage Of Others Volume 2, it's obvious that "Antiphon" represents Midlake better. They've proved they're still a great band without Smith, I'd wager they can reach the heights of "Courage" on their own terms...

Midlake at the Tivoli, Utrecht 23/03/14

***** for Provider, The Old and the Young

**** for Antiphon, It's Going Down, Aurora Gone

*** for Ages, This Weight, Provider (Reprise)

** for Vale, Corruption