Customer Reviews

Trials of Van Occupanther

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Midlake debuted with a sparkling collection of Grandaddy-covers-Flaming-Lipsesque rock, and they grow more into their fuzzy-folk-rock sound in their second full-length album, "The Trials of Van Occupanther, with swirling instrumentals, a rockier sound, and a feeling of pastoral unrest.

It opens with the rippling guitar and mellow vocals of "Roscoe," which sways through on a smooth folk-rocky path. "Stonecutters made them from stones/Chosen specially for you and I/Who will live inside?" sings Tim Smith, as he sings about rain-drenched gardens and cedar houses.

Then it's time for the melodic folk of "Bandits" and the rippling pop-rock of "Head Home." As the album goes on, Midlake tries out all sorts of music -- fluting folk about exhausted scientists, swirling lo-fi rock, exquisite piano ballads, sunny pastoral sounds, and mellow tunes about chasing after deer.

Listening to "The Trials of Van Occupanther" is like being outside on a late spring day, lying on the grass and watching the clouds drift by. Even when they try out some odder stuff, Midlake's second album is full of the beauty and awe of nature, in all sorts of ways. "For myself I must remind/that the woods are usually kind"...

The music is centered on the acoustic and electric guitar, forming swirls of psychedelic indiepop and gentle folk/dance. And there's plenty of solid percussion and sparklin sweeps of analog synth to keep it colorful, while other songs have the piano and a delicate flute behind them. One of the best moments is "Branches," an eerily adoring little ballad that slowly soars up.

And the lyrics are equally strong -- bittersweet and slightly fantastical. Tim Smith's smooth vocals convey everything from post-rain freshness ("We like the newness, the newness of all/That has grown in our garden soaking for so long") to lovers who live up in trees.

Midlake made a triumphant return in their second full-length album, "Trials of Van Occupanther." An exquisite piece of work, and a must-listen for fans of brilliant indie-folk-rock.

Imagine this: Thom Yorke, having just finished Emerson's "Self-Reliance," finds Neil Young (who is carving bars of soap into deer, elk and bear shapes) and they decide to go jam at Blue Oyster Cult's house (I assume Blue Oyster Cult all live in the same house). On the way, they pick up Lindsay Buckingham, who just happens to be out splitting kindling as Thom and Neil, hastily-packed bags slung over their shoulders, a bottle of clear, home-brewed liquid being passed between them, amble by rosy cheeked and smiling. Peeking from the woods on the other side of the (dirt) road is Sufjan Stevens, obscured by trees, who, though unnoticed, tips his hat as if to say, "I ain't mad at'cha."

Yes, Midlake's influences obscure their songs on the first listen, but give this album some time, and it becomes pure Midlake and damn--oh so damn!--good.

I saw Midlake at festival recently and had never heard of them. The live set was strong enough to convince me to order some albums and I'm now a solid fan. The opening track, Roscoe, reminds me a bit of Adrian Belew, a bit of XTC and a whole lot of Midlake themselves. It's like suddenly realizing how Coldplay should sound. The music is layered and atmospheric with a bit of an eels feel. Midlake is definitely their own band, for all the influences I'm throwing out. They make the sort of music that feels old, like your favorite album you lost long ago. Try 'Roscoe' or 'Young Bride' for an indication of their style. If you like either of those, you need to buy the album.

Back in 2004 when I first heard it, I had not paid much attention to Midlake's first record, Bamnan and Silvercork; not that I found it a poor first effort from the Denton-based band, far from it, but I was left with the taste of something unfinished, with a band that was still working through their (impressive) list of influences. Two years later, I chanced upon a live recording of "Roscoe" and "Van Occupanther" on the radio and I knew that I was hearing something special, nothing short of a small miracle.

I find it intriguing that the name of Radiohead (probably my favorite band ever) should appear so often in reviews about this "Trials of Van Occupanther". If they have anything in common, it's probably this apparent (yet not so) staggering transformation from ugly little ducks to majestuous swans - although I would argue that in both cases, the seeds of their musical genius could already be found in their respective first albums.

Certainly, Radiohead has profoundly influenced Midlake (this is particularly obvious on "Branches", which would not have been out of place on an EP of the "Ok Computer" era), and in particular the singing of Tim Smith, but unlike many bands which are still clumsily struggling to comprehend the riches of "Ok Computer" or even "The Bends", Midlake has succeeded in not only understanding, but also seamlessly merging that influence with many others, Fleetwood Mac and America immediately springing to mind. As a result, "The Trials of...." proposes a musical landscape both familiar and foreign, drawn by layers upon layers of melodies deceivingly simple where you feel oddly at home although you've never quite been there before.

Overall, the greatest achievement of this record is not to break new grounds or to revolutionize a genre, but lies in the net of sensations, images and atmosphere it weaves around you. Certainly, some songs will awaken your interest on their own merits - "Roscoe", which I would undoubtly choose as my favorite song of 2006, and deserves the title of "instant classic", "Head Home", "Young Brides" or even "We Gathered in Spring". But a handful of songs, no matter how convincing, is not enough to make a great album. What's so outstanding about "The Trials of Van Occupanther" when all is said and done is that feeling that we've just been invited to witness a ghostly gathering in forgotten woods, an enchanting picture full of nostaliga but refusing to slumber in gratuitous sadness, almost miraculous and so fragile that you barely dare to breathe for fear that it would disappear in an instant.

I am sure some people will find this same record tedious, or at least forgetable, and they would be just as right as I am for lauding it: for it is in the nature of such a musical piece which stands out, not for its bravery (unless publishing a honest work is considered such - which may just be), but for creating its own, peaceful niche in the music scene of today, to fall flat to some ears, depending on their state of mind of the day or their sensitivity. But I can only speak for myself here, and I would conclude by saying that it's this very sense of being witness to something unique and almost miraculous, of urgency contrasting with the luxurious pace with which the songs unfold, of extreme frailty of something that could vanish at any moment that makes "The Trials of Van Occupanther" an outstanding recording that belongs to no other genre but its own

Out with the contemptible, self-obsessed, self-loathing lyrics of most modern bands; Midlake is folk like Woody Guthrie and brimming with good old-fashioned American idealism. Van Occupanther is thematically and musically transcendent, unlike many a contemporary act's cop-out post-modernism, in that it backs away from our history and gives generous place to who we are and where we're at in the grand scheme of things. How dare a band actually attempt to SAY something nowadays, right? But that's the case here, and it feels good. Emerson would be proud.

The Denton quintet have masterfully changed their magically bizzare sound from Bamnan and Slivercork into something inspired by the 70s folk era. Their ability to grasp such unique sounds and melodies boggles my mind considering the trucks full of uninspirational overproduced music we hear today. "Young Bride", with it's folksy/bluegrassy violin licks, and We Gathered in Spring, a song that to me sounds like something out of a space documentary, are so different yet equally good that it's hard to believe they're from the same band. Without question, this album is my album of the year.

It's only their second project, but the Trials of Van Occupanther makes Midlake stand out of the crowd and takes them to the next level. At first, the tracks seem to run together and no single song stands out, but once you listen to the intricacies of each track the album reveals hit after hit. The first track 'Roscoe' was the reason I bought the album, but it has dropped to fourth place of my favorites on the album. Track three 'Head Home' takes the cake, track eight 'We Gathered in Spring' comes in second, track 5 'Young Bride' slides in at third. Be mindful not to over look 'Bandits' (track two) and the album's namesake track 'Van Occupanther', both catchy tunes. The harmonizing is incredible, and the array of instruments will put their contemporaries to shame. If you are curious whether they can pull off these delicate nuances live, the answer is an emphatic 'YES'! The live performance was captivating and they held their vocals and compliment of instrument sounds as tight as the studio recording, with some entertaining banter between songs. Go and get this album today! Vince Minneapolis, MN

for fans of the following albums:

neil young - harvest
radiohead - the bends
the thrills - so much for the city
coldplay - parachutes
america - america
grandaddy - sumday
mojave 3 - excuses for travellers
wilco - summerteeth
the jayhawks - hollywood town hall

really artfully crafted, easy listening, retro sounding acoustic rock with a nice little indie edge.

There's a recent commercial where a family is sitting around a table eating Cheez-Its. Why they are eating Cheez-Its at the dinner table is anybody's guess. The father wonders aloud, staring in awe at a cracker, how they make them. The son describes two semi-trailers barrelling towards each other, one with a huge hunk of cheese strapped to the front grill and the other with a large saltine strapped to front. Thus, the inevitable head-on collision results in the formation of the aforementioned Cheez-It. This, I imagine, is similar to the formation of "The Trials of Van Occupanther" by Midlake, one of the best albums to come out this year. The tastes being smashed together here, as mentioned any many, many reviews of this really interesting album, are that of Fleetwood Mac, Pablo Cruise, Dave Mason, Bread, Atlantic Rhythm Section, and early squirrely Neil Young all strapped to the front of a speeding Mac Truck heading directly for Thom Yorke's tour bus. And what you're left with is an amazingly produced slab of easy-listening rock and roll that sounds as if its found it's way through some vortex of time, circa 1976. The songs are complex enough to remain interesting over repeated listens and, while not shower-worthy hook-wise, the melodies, coupled with some fantastic vocal harmony and tasteful instrumenatal touches, are quite irresistible. 2006 seems to be a rather bland year for good indy rock albums, but Midlake's sophmore effort is definitely vying for a few "Best of..." lists come December. They're certainly on mine.

The track Roscoe is as perfect a song as anyone could make. The lyrics are mysterious and only hint at a story that is never completely told. There are other truly great tracks too, though honestly no other track comes close to the perfection of Roscoe. Its a bit unfair to describe the sound of the Cd simply as "70's" but at the time its the quickest way to describe the soundscape that the band created. Some reviewers are saying "Fleetwood Mac" but the soft-rock orchestral sounds of "Seals and Crofts" and "Bread" are a closer attribution. Some reviewers might not be old enough to remember these bands. In any case, a great CD that is worth buying if looking for something more crafted than what we get in the usual Indie CD.