Midlake – The Courage Of Others

I don’t anyone can give a good excuse for that hideous artwork but the songs on Midlake’s new album are once again worth hearing.

Gone are the seventies Fleetwood Mac influences from “The Trials of Van Occupanther”. They have been kindly asked to fuck off and were then replaced by folk. That means less keyboards and more guitars. ‘Gee, folk in 2010… how original’ I hear you mutter ironically. But it’s not the ‘new’ folk that so many American bands are doing so well these days. No, the guys in Midlake go back to the likes of Fairport Convention.

This makes for some very good songs like opener “Acts Of Man” and “Rulers, Ruling All Things” with “Children Of The Grounds” possibly being one of the best songs these guys have written so far. But it’s all too much of the same and I find myself unable to sit through all that “The Courage Of Others” has to offer. Not bad at all but you’re better off consuming this one in small doses.
Score: 7 out of 10
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http://www.midlake.net