The Courage of Others

The Courage of Others

Formed by jazz students who attended the University of North Texas College of Music, Midlake perform an American take on British folk music. Their tight harmonies and minor key brooding give them a sound that’s caught in an English fog looking towards Scotland. “Core of Nature” is great ensemble playing, but it’s singer Tim Smith’s primarily solo vocal on “Fortune” that yields true forlorn beauty. In just two minutes, it sends things back centuries or at least to the ‘60s. “Rulers, Ruling All Things” adds drums and electric guitars for a move towards heavier terrain. “Children of the Grounds” adds an earthy jangle to the winding vortex of black magic harmonies. “Bring Down” throws in a gorgeous descending melody with organ supplying the steady grounding while a simple flute takes things to the sky. “The Horn” works on pure druid magic. The title track sounds like Sebadoh getting back to the land. Not bad for a band from Denton, Texas, or anywhere else.

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