Just Deserts

On a hot and stifling night in New York, The Middle East's Jordan Ireland is trying to take it all in. "We've been going up and down the length of America with Mumford and Sons," he says. "It's been pretty amazing. Especially if you've come from as far away as Australia, like we have. You're sitting on a tour bus and, every so often, you have those moments where you want to pinch yourself."

He'd better get used to it. Judging by online buzz, The Middle East are about to have a lot more 'pinch yourself' moments. Despite living on the far side of the planet, this sprawling seven-piece have been loudly heralded as one of the year's most thrilling newcomers. There's also something of the zeitgeist about them. With a sound that mooches eloquently between Sufjan Stevens and the aforementioned Mumford-ians, Ireland and company are perfectly positioned to surf the trend for all things folksy.
“We weren't aware of things like that when we started," he says. “We just got together and started playing. It was perfectly natural. If you try to meet people's expectations you will inevitably come up short."
What's it like touring a bunch of infamous pranksters such as Mumford and Sons? Notorious for their love of on-the-road japery, the London folksters once tried to convince this journalist there was more to their relationship than met the eye when they started holding hands and pawing one another during an interview.
"They're great guys," says Mike. “It's very instructive touring with them because they've been to the US before, so they know the ropes. We get on really well. It helps that we're fans of their music and get to see them perform every night. That's a privilege, isn't it?"
To say that The Middle East are from off the beaten track is a bit like saying the North Koreans are a bit wobbly at the back. Their home town, Townsville, is located in Australia's historical equivalent of the Wild West. During the 19th century, it was a proper Deadwood, frequented by gun-slingers, hooch peddlers and steersman. Today, there's still a bit of an edge to it.
"It's subtropical but it's dry, so it gets really hot. It's an army town. It's quite a distance from the next big city. We have to drive miles to get to gigs. The upside, I suppose is that, as a band, you have an opportunity to grow. It's not like Sydney or Melbourne where there are quite big scenes. Here, you can develop at your own pace."
The Middle East met at the local university. Initially, the project was a bit of a lark (they called themselves The Middle East after randomly watching a documentary about the Israel-Palestine conflict). They would perform at local bars and coffee shops, plying the punters with woozy, fragmented folk pieces bathed in gently twanging guitars and stormy violins. A record deal was the last thing on their mind. However, when they started posting songs onto MySpace, the world at large caught wind of what they were doing.
"We've never been interested in making a whole lot of money. The business side of music is something we haven't engaged with to a huge degree. We've never really sat down and though about it. We would hate to think that we were doing this for careerist reasons. That's the exact opposite of what we're at, to be honest."
You get the sense that, though the Middle East, are a pleasant bunch they're not exactly the stuff from which future rock legends are hewn. Rather ambivalent about the entire idea of prostituting their art, they appear to be dubious about something as uncontroversial as a 'getting to know you interview'. Certainly, they are in little danger of being mistaken for loquacious yarn-spinners. When I mention to the singer that the band played The Middle East club in Boston – hey, it has the same name as the band! – he shrugs disinterestedly and sighs.
Nevermind. Whatever about the boys themselves, The Middle East's music is deep, mysterious and transcendental. Moreover, they are one of the few 'nu-folk' bands who a) aren't shamelessly in hock to Crosby Stills and Nash or b) sound as if they are about to go a bit 'hey nonny nonny' on you at any moment. ''We're not even fully comfortable with the folk label. We do what we do and let people make up their own minds."

The Recordings Of The Middle East is out now on Spunk Records. They play the Hot Press/Academy stage on the Saturday.