Lough, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Formed in 1999 by a group of jazz nerds, Denton, Texas natives Midlake have been an interesting yet perplexing band. Throughout their career, the indie hopefuls have been almost chameleon-like in their approach to making music and album number three The Courage Of Others sees the band leave behind the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young influences of The Trials Of Van Occupanther and embrace their new found love for British folk.

“When we made our first album (Bamnan And Slivercork) I had never heard a Neil Young or Joni Mitchell song before, so when it was time to make the second album I had heard them and they were a massive influence,” says singer Tim Smith. “It’s the same with this album – I’d never heard Pentangle or Fairport Convention and when I did discover them, they really influenced this new record. Nowadays at this point I think I’m pretty well rounded in terms of my musical education, so The Courage Of Others is probably my favourite album because it’s well thought out.”
A self-confessed jazz geek, Tim was a bit of a late developer in life and while most of us spent our teenage years talking shit and listening to bands, the Midlake frontman didn’t share those same experiences at all.
“I got a real late start in life with music," he admits. "I grew up with jazz music and for 13 years that was all I listened to. From the age of ten up to college it was only jazz. Like, I knew who The Beatles were (sort of) but I had no clue who Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath were. Any band that you would think a typical teenager would be into I had never heard of. You know the way that musicians would have friends come over with acoustic guitars and they’d learn Zeppelin songs at the age of 15 – well that just wasn’t my life.”
In many ways though, despite his slightly blinkered teenage years, much of the folksy, flute-laden charm on The Courage Of Others can be attributed to Smith’s unusual childhood as he approaches a dusty style of music with fresh new eyes.
“All of our three albums really sound different from one another,” confesses the straight-talking Texan. “I don’t necessarily like that though. I like bands that don’t change very much I guess. I like being able to count on a certain sound from a band, so I’m not really trying to change our direction, it’s just that whatever I’m listening to always influences me. I do think that this new album is the best thing we’ve done. I’m never satisfied with anything we do, so the fact that I’m proud of this one says a lot to me and I’m looking forward to making another one.”
And while Tim feels that Midlake have finally found their sound (unless of course he discovers Pantera’s Vulgar Display Of Power, in which case all bets are off) he does admit that the change of pace will polarise some of the band’s original fans once the follow up to 2006’s Occupanther hits record shop shelves this month.
“I think some people won’t dig it,” he states bluntly. “I think this album is where they get off the train, but I think others will really love it and it’ll be their favourite album. I also think we’ll make some new fans too. We’ll probably have people who have never heard us before pick up the record and think it’s great and then buy Occupanther and not like it as much. As a band, we spent every single day working on this album, so for us it’s no a big step at all because we’ve lived with it for two years, but I can understand why people won’t get it. Still, I think we’ll get a different crowd now and that’s cool too.”