Midlake; 70s retro par excellence?

Adrian (Lontano) recommended them - I bought a CD and very glad I did.

One of my fave albums this year. I went to see them and they can play it live in a 70's way. Some of them sat down to perform.

One of my other fave albums this year is John Grant - Queen of Denmark - John Grant singing with Midlake playing the instruments.

Both will be touring together later in the year.

John Grant had almost given up on music until he met Midlake. The Texan folk-rockers saw the disillusioned former frontman of The Czars live, fell in love with his burnished baritone and elegantly sad songs, invited him on tour and then persuaded Grant to make a solo album at their own Denton studio. Fans of confessional singer-songwriters owe Midlake a vote of thanks, because Queen of Denmark is one of the most deeply satisfying debut albums of recent times.
A key example of the current 1970s obsession among American musicians, Queen of Denmark is a literate and poetic album about being a perennial outsider. Grant grew up gay and alienated from his religious family in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Denver, Colorado, struggled with the overlooked Czars, hid his pain in addictions to booze and drugs, and contemplated suicide. Yet his debut eschews self-pity and tortured angst for wry snipes at old lovers and the straight world, sci-fi metaphors and soaring testimonies to the impossibility of perfect love. His rich, effortless voice has a built-in smile which contrasts beautifully with Midlake’s elegantly miserable blend of acoustic folk, orchestral classicism and the occasional eerie synth.
An ex-lover called Charlie inspires three of the highlights – opener TC and Honeybear is an epic essay in bittersweet loss and male insecurity; Where Dreams Go to Die shows off Grant’s flair for the melodramatic yet restrained love song; and Caramel is a romantic ballad of minor-key majesty. Elsewhere, I Wanna Go to Marz, Chicken Bones and the wonderful Sigourney Weaver excavate key moments in Grant’s past over music that recalls relatively obscure 70s singer-songwriters: Clifford T. Ward, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Jackson Browne and Neil Sedaka haunt this gorgeous sound far more than, say, Elton John or Leonard Cohen.
But comparisons are difficult here. Queen of Denmark transcends the sum of its influences by concentrating on the irresistible appeal of sad yet optimistic love songs, classy arrangements and a dark and handsome croon. Midlake’s only mistake is making Grant’s startling debut better than their own records.

I was really looking forward to the John Grant solo album but I find it a little patchy - some of it is the best he's ever done and some less so. At this stage I would have to say I prefer The Czars "Goodbye" but that could just be due to familiarity.

I have found it a real grower - it took me a while to start playing it a lot. I think it will have longevity as a result. I have never heard the Czars (I see they are on spotify so will give them a go this weekend)

Still one of my faves of the year. If you only bought 'Courage Of Others' then do give 'Van Occupanther' a go, a bit less elegaic and with more than a whiff of Grandaddy. Some excellent songs.

Bruce

Midlake did a session on the Radcliffe & Maconie Radio 2 show - this Monday I think. It's probably still on the listen again things if you're quick.

Gavin

The Guardian newspaper also had a free download of unplugged tracks called 'The Denton Sessions' which was excellent, might be worth searching to see if it can still be accessed. I'll copy it onto a CD for anyone that asks me nicely.

Bruce

Phil @ Cymbiosis played some Midlake during a demo - I started with Van Occupanther, and went from there. He's costing me a fortune!
I'll check out the John Grant - thanks for the heads-up

Finally heard this on my main rig, rather than the car - must admit it sounds "delicate", as opposed to "whiney" on the better kit.

Will keep listening...