Midlake - Young Bride
[Bella Union]

The history of popular music is littered with bands and artists obsessed with finding their own rural utopia, from The Band and Traffic 'getting it together' in the country in the late sixties, right through to latter day pastoralists like Grandaddy and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. There is a danger that bands who follow this path of countryside idealism will be viewed as contriving to create a quirky image for themselves. Midlake's quirkiness seems to be genuine, so hopefully this criticism won't be levelled at them.

For a start off the lyrical points of reference that Midlake employ are far from standard, A-side 'Young Bride' conjures up images of a lost wilderness with it's mentions of 'hunters and snowshoes', not exactly your usual song-writing fare for a twenty something rock band. Musically it opens with a swirl of mournful, countrified fiddle before unfolding with gently stomping drums and linear guitar, the whole thing maintaining a discernibly authentic rustic feel. The B-side, an alternative version of 'It Covers the Hillside', which, with its crystal clear acoustic guitars, is a pretty and unmistakeable nod towards early seventies country rock.

With a growing celebrity following which includes The Flaming Lips, who Midlake will support on their European tour and actor Jason Lee, it seems Midlake are on the threshold of something infinitely bigger. Their sound has led to inevitable comparisons with probably the best purveyors of mystic Americana of them all, Mercury Rev. While I don't think they're quite at that level yet, the seeds are there for something great to spring forth in the future. Watch this space.