Customer Reviews

Milkmaid Grand Army Ep

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3 star:		(1)
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Midlake reintroduces the EP that first got people talking about this Texan band -- "Milkmaid Grand Army," a seven-song EP that was released by them in 2001, and sold out quickly. Rather than the poignant Grandaddyish sound of their two full-length albums, this EP explores a different kind of folk-rock -- infused with heavy fuzz.

It opens with the blurry, psychedelic swirls of "She Removes Her Spiral Hair," which is a heated duel between cycling guitars and sixties-style electric organ. Tim Smith glides through it like a drunken Mark Linkous, wistfully murmuring that "sometimes the starlight, sometimes the starlight disappears..."

Things get a bit less wonky over the next few songs: slow-moving, mournful/hopeful folk, and staccato guitar-rock laced with sweeps of fuzzy, effervescent synth. There's also some half-obscured piano pop that is so heavily soaked in fuzz that you can hardly identify what the music is made of.

In the final round of songs, Midlake gets an even firmer grip on this older style: psychedelic piano balladry, fuzzed-out bells that blossom into rollicking indie pop, and finishing up with the poignant, lo-fi murmurs of "Golden Hour." It's a pretty ending

Every good band expands their sound with time, and Midlake is no exception -- they used the psychfolk approach to their first album, and injected a bit more rock into their second. But turn back the clock, and you'll find them sounding very different in their first release.

Midlake has explored use of fuzz before, but in "Milkmaid Grant Army" they soak every song in it. Fortunately they don't neglect their oft-used instrumentation, such as rippling synth over solid piano, drums and guitars, and rollicking tunes mixed in with bittersweet folk. The instrumentation always sounds a little off... deliberately.

But all that fuzz adds an otherworldly vibe to Smith's voice, which already sounded kind of out-there. He croons through some songs, blurs through others, and generally sounds like a sad folkie surrounded by swirling skies and girls with "spiral hair," starlight and other clever, evocative images.

Midlake has moved on, but the seeds of their psychfolk-rock goodness were planted by the fuzzy "Milkmaid Grand Army." Definitely worth checking out, both on its own merits and to see where Mdlake started from.

I've been a fan of Midlake since hearing the song "Young Bride". When I purchased The Trials of Van Occupanther, I must admit I was thrown for a loop. I was immersed into a world, somewhere between fantasy and reality, with fox men, timid scientist and stonecutters. Naturally I wanted more...

I purchased Milkmaid Grand Army and Bamnan and Slivercork in the hopes of expanding my understanding and appreciation of Midlake. What I got was an entire universe of unexplored psychadelic transience. MGA has such vivid imagery without even trying. The song I most appreciate, the one that almost made me cry and probably will after repeated listenings, is "Golden Hour". It's one of the softest and somber songs I've ever heard. It's almost like Tim Smith, the lead singer of the band, is himself in pain.

Honestly, if you're looking for something deep and surreal, you need to pick up this album.

You can tell this is an album where the band is trying to find itself; and I think the producer in particular uses way to much fuzz and covers up so decent lyrics and some simple but catchy melodies. I would like to give it a 3.5 stars if possible; overall it's an album that will have to grow on you.

If you are into Midlake (and who wouldn't be after listening to Trials of Van Occupanther)you gotta have the one that started the buzz. This reissue of their first is a must have for a Midlake collector. Don't think, just buy it. The style is not akin to Van Occupanther, but it IS Midlake at an early point in their career and definitely a gem for your collection. I can't wait to see if they can top Van Occupanther with their next release.