{"title":"Midlake","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMidlake is an American folk rock band hailing from Denton, Texas. With their formation in 1999, they have been captivating audiences with their unique sound and soulful lyrics. Their music combines elements of folk, rock, and Americana to create a truly distinctive style. Midlake's heartfelt performances and melodic tunes have garnered them a dedicated fan base around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince their inception, Midlake has released several critically acclaimed albums that showcase their musical prowess and storytelling abilities. Their songs are filled with introspective themes and thought-provoking lyrics that resonate with listeners on a deep level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith each album release, Midlake continues to push boundaries and evolve as artists. Their dedication to creating authentic music shines through in every note they play. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to their sound, experiencing Midlake's music is sure to be an unforgettable journey.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-courage-of-others","title":"The Courage Of Others","description":"\u003cp\u003eMidlake return with 'The Courage of Others', their extraordinary third album. It's ironic that Midlake's new album is titled 'The Courage of Others' because, if anything, the courage is all theirs, namely, the courage to do what feels right and stay true to the spirit of artistic independence whilst ignoring any pressure to conform to expectations. The result is the Texas quintet's third album, their most complete and beautiful body of work yet, best appreciated as a whole in the old-fashioned sense of an album - which makes perfect sense when you know midlake linchpin tim smith's fondness for the look and feel of past times. So what's changed since 'the trials of van occupanther', their second, hugely loved breakthrough album? just as that record was in part inspired by the soft(er) rock of the early-to-mid 1970s - from neil young and america to fleetwood mac - so midlake's new album also looks to a slightly earlier, and definitely british, trad-tainted folk sound. It may share the same gorgeously analogue-warm electro-acoustic template as 'van occupanther' but it's a slower, darker and more carved record, both eerier and dreamier. perfect, in other words, for its february release date, at the height of winter. neither do the new songs feature any hermit-scientists like 'van occupanther', or the mythical roscoe. the songs that constitute the courage of others, tim says, are closer to his heart than those of their first two albums because, \"i don't feel i'm looking at the songs through someone else's eyes. i've tried to keep it as true to myself as i could.\" guitarist eric pulido adds, \"we didn't want to make the same album as 'van occupanther', so we carried on moving and creating and pushing for a newer sound and emotion.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bella Union","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50410780557643,"sku":"321273","price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/2cb72319-2b34-46ca-ab8e-71a0b3c57b68_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726648978"},{"product_id":"the-trials-of-van-occupanther-1","title":"The Trials of Van Occupanther.","description":"\u003cp\u003eMidlake's second album,\u003ci\u003e The Trials of Van Occupanther,\u003c\/i\u003e jumps with both feet into the '70s of Laurel Canyon troubadours and soft rock balladeers. It jumps like Bob Beamon right past any other current bands treading similar ground and jumps back into time, becoming one of the best examples of the sound and style you'll ever hear, date of release notwithstanding. The first thing you notice on the album is the stunning vocal harmonies; you might think you dropped in an America disc by mistake. (The best record America ever did, that is.) Tim Smith has the kind of voice you know could be a glass-shattering instrument on par with that of Buckley or Wainwright, but he keeps it dialed down to an intimate scale, which is a wise decision. His vocals bleed melancholy honesty, and the way it combines with Eric Pulido's voice will raise goose bumps. The arrangements provide a perfect bed for the vocals, with cottony layers of acoustic guitars and strings, gentle horns, restrained drums, and lyrical piano combining beautifully. The occasional surprises are effective, especially when they use some of the corniest synth sounds heard since Jan Hammer unstrapped his keytar for the last time, on \"We Gathered in Spring\" and \"It Covers the Hillside.\" All of which is nice but isn't worth much without songs. Fortunately, Midlake writes unerringly tuneful melodies and thoughtful lyrics about topics other than love and introspection, and lays down plenty of gentle hooks. Nothing that you'll be singing in the shower for days at a time, but each song goes down smoothly and they add up to make The Trials of Van Occupanther a very pleasant, maybe even exciting in a restrained way, listening experience. You'll certainly find yourself reaching for it more often than you might expect; indeed, it has lasting power that many records that sound so good on first listen lack. Midlake might be stuck in the '70s, but they make it sound like the best place on earth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReleased on 180 Gram gold vinyl to celebrate a new Midlake album for 2022 and also the 15th anniversary of \u003ci\u003eThe Trials of Van Occupanther\u003c\/i\u003e last year.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bella Union","offers":[{"title":"Gold | LP","offer_id":50413394952523,"sku":"384466","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/4aa83dbd-6819-484e-b8a9-244a6eeb3dc2_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726673398"},{"product_id":"bamnan-and-slivercork","title":"Bamnan and Slivercork","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a Record Store Day 2017 item. It will be available to purchase from our stores from 8am 22nd April. Remaining stock will be available to purchase from this page at 00.01 29th April.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLimited to 1400 Copies on Yellow Vinyl. Following the reissue of their breakthrough album \u003ci\u003eThe Trials Of Van Occupanther\u003c\/i\u003e last year, Texan indie-pioneers Midlake reissue their debut album \u003ci\u003eBamnan and Slivercork\u003c\/i\u003e which has been out of press since its release in 2003. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bella Union","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50470093652299,"sku":"1008737","price":21.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/97858a23-92d6-4c06-920e-19c41aa3c902_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727372338"},{"product_id":"live-at-the-roundhouse-3","title":"Live At The Roundhouse","description":"\u003cp\u003eDenton, TX indie folk-rock pioneers Midlake announce their first catalog-spanning double live album, \u003ci\u003eLive at Roundhouse.\u003c\/i\u003e Recorded at London’s historic Roundhouse in April 2022, the album includes material from their latest album For The Sake Of Bethel Woods, fan favourites from 2013’s exploratory \u003ci\u003eAntiphon\u003c\/i\u003e, dark psych-folk thickets of 2010’s \u003ci\u003eThe Courage of Others\u003c\/i\u003e, and the highly wondrous and critically acclaimed modern classics of 2006’s \u003ci\u003eThe Trials of Van\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eOccupanther\u003c\/i\u003e. A pivotal city to the band’s success and their dedicated fanbase, London was the obvious show to record during their most recent tour. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMidlake’s Eric Pulido shares, “Since our early days, London has been like a second home. We’ve been embraced so warmly all of these years and knew our show at The Roundhouse would serve as the perfect night to celebrate our 20-year relationship with our first live album.” A long overdue retrospective, \u003ci\u003eLive at Roundhouse\u003c\/i\u003e includes 75+ minutes of music including Midlake classics “Roscoe,” “The Old and the Young,” “Head Home,” and “Acts of Man,” featuring vocals from singer\/songwriter Bess Atwell. The packaging showcases a gorgeous matte-board double album, printed on Translucent Red (Side A) and Translucent Orange (Side B) 180-gram vinyl, with expansive artwork by photographer Andy Little. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bella Union","offers":[{"title":"Red LP","offer_id":50485712453963,"sku":"2012353","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/midlake_live-at-roundhouse_packshot_3726628f_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1727602301"},{"product_id":"courage-of-others-lrsd-2020","title":"Courage Of Others (LRSD 2020)","description":"\u003cp\u003eMidlake’s third album, The Courage of Others, resides in the same woody, bearded Laurel Canyon neighborhood as their previous release The Trials of Van Occupanther. Tim Smith and his crew of laid-back balladeers have created another mesmerizing, smoke-filled work of quiet beauty that may not exactly improve on Trials, but does refine and focus their sound. Smith’s tender vocals, the band’s sympathetically hushed backing, and the strong melodies of the songs combine to cast a spell of hushed melancholy that’s only occasionally broken up by drums or volume. Indeed, the one song that rises above the no-tempo to midtempo mark, \"Children of the Grounds,\" sounds a bit out of place before the web of vocal harmonies pulls the song back into the lovely gloom.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bella Union","offers":[{"title":"Green LP","offer_id":50490339295563,"sku":"1094273","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/26f6aeae-d69d-4f3e-8267-834fb7019824_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727658896"},{"product_id":"live-in-denton-tx","title":"Live in Denton, TX","description":"\u003cp\u003eRecord Store Day 2015 Release. Actor Jason Lee and director Eric Noren have produced and directed a new live concert film 'Midlake: Live in Denton, TX' for long-time Bella Union favourites Midlake. The footage was captured at the iconic concert venue Dan's Silverleaf in Midlake's hometown of Denton, TX, where the band had stopped off to play a local show while on tour promoting their fourth album 'Antiphon'. The 12\" includes the tracks 'The Old And The Young', 'Antiphon', 'Roscoe' and 'Going Down'. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bella Union","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50494520131915,"sku":"387576","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0dfdc0ab-03b3-451d-bb6f-8771d91145c3_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727706223"},{"product_id":"for-the-sake-of-bethel-woods","title":"For the Sake of Bethel Woods","description":"\u003cp\u003eLoss and hope, isolation and communion, the cessation and renewal of purpose. Timeless and salient, these themes echo throughout the fifth album from Midlake, their first since Antiphon in 2013. Produced to layered, loving perfection by John Congleton, For the Sake of Bethel Woods is an album of immersive warmth and mystery from a band of ardent seekers, one of our generation’s finest: a band once feared lost themselves by fans, perhaps, but here revivified with freshness and constancy of intent.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA desire to commune with the past and connect with present, lived experience asserts itself from the opening of the album. A song that resonates with Midlake’s return and, perhaps, our lockdown era, ‘Commune’ can also be read in terms of a deeper urge to re-engage with sometimes neglected ideals and beliefs. ‘Bethel Woods’ sustains and develops that reconnection, evoking the steadfast and contemplative urgency of \u003ci\u003eThe Trials of Van Occupanther\u003c\/i\u003e to back a lyric steeped in yearning for a paradisal time and place of hope and optimism. Soaring guitars and atmospheric noise effects extend a sonic scope further developed by ‘Glistening,’ where arpeggios dance like light glancing off a lake. In just three songs, Midlake reintroduce themselves and reach out into fresh territory with a richly intuitive dynamism, honouring their past as a seedbed of possibility.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe psychedelic space-rock and sticky guitars of ‘Exile’ shift the album to another plane, promising rich returns live, before ‘Feast of Carrion’ splices apocalyptic imagery with lustrous harmonies: darkness and light, held in rarefied balance. A deeply personal turn follows on ‘Noble,’ a song of tender innocence named after drummer McKenzie Smith’s infant son, born with a rare brain disorder called Semi-Lobar Holoprosencephaly. Pulido, who has been friends with McKenzie since they were 16 years old, kept McKenzie in mind for the lyrics. “I wrote the song from his perspective in a way, his expression to me of how he had been feeling towards his son. And then among the lament of his condition, it’s also embracing this child who has only joy. Noble doesn’t know that he has a condition, he just loves life. And smiles, and is so innocent, and perfect in so many ways.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eElsewhere, the prog-enhanced funk-rock of ‘Gone’ seeks to find hope in relationships that seem fragile. The ELO-esque ‘Meanwhile…’ draws inspiration from what happened when Midlake paused after Antiphon, developing universal resonance as a song about the beautiful growths that can emerge from the cracks and gaps between things. ‘Dawning’ draws on 1970s soft-rock stylings for another song searching for hope, its keyboard line reaching out towards an uncertain future while everything seems to collapse around it; ‘The End’ reflects on the difficulties of partings. Finally, ‘Of Desire’ meditates on letting go of what you can’t control and attending to what you can during uncertain times. “It’s about finding peace in that humbling,” says Pulido. “Sometimes it’s hard to have a large effect, so it’s just about shrinking that and saying, these are the things I can do and the rest is to be seen, to be known.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMidlake began re-attending to their patch in 2019, with the bulk of the album’s work undertaken when the world shut down in 2020. The lockdown turned out to be helpful, in terms of offering an escape from grim reality and focusing the band’s energies – essential for an outfit whose members (Pulido, Chandler, Smith, Eric Nichelson and Joey McClellan) had all pursued alternative ventures following Antiphon. Also on-hand was new collaborator John Congleton, who produced, engineered and mixed the album, marking Midlake’s first record with an outside producer. “I can’t say enough just how much his influence brought our music to another sonic place than we would have,” says Pulido. “I don’t want to record without a producer again. Part of that is the health of the band, because as you get older you get more opinionated and you kind of need that person who says, ‘No, it’s going to be this way!’ It’s hard to do that with your friends.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe result is a powerful, warming expression of resolve and renewal for Midlake, opening up new futures for the band and honouring their storied history. Formed in the small town of Denton, with roots in the University of North Texas College of Music, Midlake delivered an auspicious debut with 2004’s Bamnan and Slivercork. For the follow-up, they looked further afield and deeper within to deliver 2006’s wondrous\u003ci\u003e The Trials of Van Occupanther\u003c\/i\u003e, a modern classic pitched between 1871, 1971 and somewhere out of time: between Henry David Thoreau and Neil Young’s After the Gold Rush, between 1970s Laurel Canyon thinking and a longing for something more mysterious. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn reuniting, the bandmates were adamant that Midlake needed their absolute focus. The result is an album of tremendously engaged thematic and sonic reach with a warm, wise sense of intimacy at its heart: an album to break bread and commune with, honour the past and travel onwards with. In ‘Bethel Woods’, Pulido sings of gathering seeds. On \u003ci\u003eFor the Sake of Bethel Woods\u003c\/i\u003e, those seeds are lovingly nurtured, taking rich and spectacular bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bella Union","offers":[{"title":"White | LP.","offer_id":50508019204427,"sku":"1136337","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50508019040587,"sku":"1136336","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"White | LP","offer_id":50508019630411,"sku":"2002399","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50508018712907,"sku":"1136335","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0e7ae55c-035c-4bbf-97f1-498b5f5ab658_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727855486"},{"product_id":"the-trials-of-van-occupanther","title":"The Trials of Van Occupanther","description":"\u003cp\u003eMidlake's second album is a departure from their lo-fi, psychedelic pop-influenced debut. The Trials of Van Occupanther jumps with both feet into the '70s of Laurel Canyon troubadours and soft rock balladeers. It jumps like Bob Beamon right past any other current bands treading similar ground and jumps back into time, becoming one of the best examples of the sound and style you'll ever hear, date of release notwithstanding. The first thing you notice on the album is the stunning vocal harmonies; you might think you dropped in an America disc by mistake. (The best record America ever did, that is.) Tim Smith has the kind of voice you know could be a glass-shattering instrument on par with that of Buckley or Wainwright, but he keeps it dialed down to an intimate scale, which is a wise decision. His vocals bleed melancholy honesty, and the way it combines with Eric Pulido's voice will raise goose bumps. The arrangements provide a perfect bed for the vocals, with cottony layers of acoustic guitars and strings, gentle horns, restrained drums, and lyrical piano combining beautifully. The occasional surprises are effective, especially when they use some of the corniest synth sounds heard since Jan Hammer unstrapped his keytar for the last time, on \"We Gathered in Spring\" and \"It Covers the Hillside.\" All of which is nice but isn't worth much without songs. Fortunately, Midlake writes unerringly tuneful melodies and thoughtful lyrics about topics other than love and introspection, and lays down plenty of gentle hooks. Nothing that you'll be singing in the shower for days at a time, but each song goes down smoothly and they add up to make The Trials of Van Occupanther a very pleasant, maybe even exciting in a restrained way, listening experience. You'll certainly find yourself reaching for it more often than you might expect; indeed, it has lasting power that many records that sound so good on first listen lack. Midlake might be stuck in the '70s, but they make it sound like the best place on earth.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bella Union","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50525241049419,"sku":"384476","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"the-courage-of-others-1","title":"The Courage Of Others","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMidlake\u003c\/strong\u003e, Denton, TX indie folk-rock pioneers, are celebrating their 15th Anniversary with a reissue of their acclaimed album \u003cem\u003eThe Courage of Others\u003c\/em\u003e. Originally released on February 1, 2010, this special deluxe edition features two 180-gram colored vinyl records housed in a gatefold package.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlongside the original studio album, this reissue includes a second disc filled with B-sides and live tracks from that era. Fans of \u003cstrong\u003eMidlake\u003c\/strong\u003e will appreciate this opportunity to revisit and explore more of the music that defined this pivotal moment in the band's career.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Midlake","offers":[{"title":"LP - Gray \/ Tan","offer_id":51394695299403,"sku":"R9180-3458","price":49.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Screenshot2025-03-05at2.18.26PM_0b1fc8de-b55a-4bc7-91ae-189d480c3d05.png?v=1752305986"},{"product_id":"a-bridge-to-far","title":"A Bridge To Far","description":"\u003cp\u003eBeloved for their cinematic songwriting and atmospheric blend of folk, rock, and psychedelia, Midlake returns with their sixth studio album, \u003cem\u003eA Bridge To Far\u003c\/em\u003e -- a sweeping, soul-stirring meditation on resilience and hope.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLead singer Eric Pulido describes the record as a reminder that, regardless of circumstance, there is a place -- \"not made of stone\" -- where one can find solace and strength. It's a call to persevere, to \"go bravely arm in arm and climb upon,\" inviting listeners to transcend the darkness through connection and belief. This is Midlake at their most inspired and intentional, weaving together mythic storytelling and emotional clarity with the signature textures that have made them a touchstone in modern independent music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecorded in the band's hometown of Denton, TX at The Echo Lab with acclaimed producer and mixer Sam Evian, \u003cem\u003eA Bridge To Far\u003c\/em\u003e captures the warmth and wildness of the band's earliest recordings while pushing into luminous new territory. The first single, \"The Ghouls,\" arrives as a haunting and propulsive introduction to the record's themes--equal parts spectral and cathartic.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bella Union","offers":[{"title":"LP - Mint Green","offer_id":53229548339531,"sku":"R5247-1446","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":53229548306763,"sku":"R5247-6991","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP - Blush","offer_id":53263013118283,"sku":"R5247-9931","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/b4bef883-60cf-42d0-9460-e29e80d0ed62.jpg?v=1755860678"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_fbafbec3_thumbnail_4096_9b2d2a88-a820-4ead-a0d9-cd23e12960bd.jpg?v=1726648958","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/fr\/collections\/midlake.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}