[.ca] Trials Of Van Occupanther

They gathered in spring:
Midlake debuted with a sparkling collection of Grandaddy-covers-Flaming-Lipsesque rock, and they grow more into their fuzzy-folk-rock sound in their second full-length album, "The Trials of Van Occupanther, with swirling instrumentals, a rockier sound, and a feeling of pastoral unrest. It opens with the rippling guitar and mellow vocals of "Roscoe," which sways through on a smooth folk-rocky path. "Stonecutters made them from stones/Chosen specially for you and I/Who will live inside?" sings Tim Smith, as he sings about rain-drenched gardens and cedar houses. Then it's time for the melodic folk of "Bandits" and the rippling pop-rock of "Head Home." As the album goes on, Midlake tries out all sorts of music -- fluting folk about exhausted scientists, swirling lo-fi rock, exquisite piano ballads, sunny pastoral sounds, and mellow tunes about chasing after deer. Listening to "The Trials of Van Occupanther" is like being outside on a late spring day, lying on the grass and watching the clouds drift by. Even when they try out some odder stuff, Midlake's second album is full of the beauty and awe of nature, in all sorts of ways. "For myself I must remind/that the woods are usually kind"... The music is centered on the acoustic and electric guitar, forming swirls of psychedelic indiepop and gentle folk/dance. And there's plenty of solid percussion and sparklin sweeps of analog synth to keep it colorful, while other songs have the piano and a delicate flute behind them. One of the best moments is "Branches," an eerily adoring little ballad that slowly soars up. And the lyrics are equally strong -- bittersweet and slightly fantastical. Tim Smith's smooth vocals convey everything from post-rain freshness ("We like the newness, the newness of all/That has grown in our garden soaking for so long") to lovers who live up in trees. Midlake made a triumphant return in their second full-length album, "Trials of Van Occupanther." An exquisite piece of work, and a must-listen for fans of brilliant indie-folk-rock.

Hauntingly beautiful:
Although often compared to Fleetwood Mac, Midlake managed to surpass all my expectations and should be, according to me, more often compared to the late Grandaddy. Mostly inspired by the 60's psych-pop and 70's country soft rock, the album is layered with beautiful vocals, electric and fuzz guitars, string arrangements and even the flute and its themes of human desperation and loneliness falls a long way from being called corny. A beautiful and haunting fairy tale, a definite must for Grandaddy or Flaming Lips fans.

• Roscoe
• Bandits
• Head Home
• Van Occupanther
• Young Bride
• Branches
• In This Camp
• We Gathered in Spring
• It Covers the Hillsides
• Chasing After Deer
• You Never Arrived