Midlake carries folk-rock harmonies the size of Texas
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Midlake's evolution has put more emphasis on the guitar.
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When Midlake broke out of Denton, Texas, in 2006 with "The Trials of Van Occupanther," the band was embraced for its contemporary take on the warm folk-rock harmonies of Crosby, Stills & Nash, America and even Fleetwood Mac.
On top of that, frontman Tim Smith, a former jazz saxophone student, also talked about trying to evoke the spirit of Jethro Tull. With the release last month of its third album, "The Courage of Others," Midlake made some slight adjustments, soaking the somber melodies in the thicker sound of vintage British folk.
Guitarist Eric Pulido says the Tull vibe was more of a goal last time out. "Soon after that, Tim discovered the British folk era, and it went down that road. Not to say that Jethro Tull isn't great, and we don't love their music, and of course the flute presence would make you think 'Oh, Jethro Tull' -- not like they have the market on the flute, but of course, I get it. It's a band we still love, but we're very sensitive about the influences. With this record it was definitely more specific with Fairport Convention, and Incredible String Band or Pentangle or Steeleye Span, and you just digest those influences and interpret how you see fit."
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Midlake's evolution toward the deeper British folk influences also put the band's emphasis more on guitar. And as guitar players well know, that style isn't easy to play.
"Especially since it's not a style we were familiar with," Mr. Pulido says. "It's not like we embodied it. We were playing in a pretty specific style, much more in that Fleetwood Mac-type vein, not a bad vein at all. Lindsey Buckingham is amazing, one of the best. But it was a transition. Now we're going to bring it down in a more British folk way with Bert Jansch or John Renbourn, then you add Richard Thompson, and it's like, 'OK, let me start doing my homework.' It was just listening a lot. Not that we didn't know how to play the instrument, but it was just, 'What do I do to try to evoke this emotion?' We never wanted to do it in a pastiche way and we didn't want to try to copy it either, because you're not going to copy it as well -- or near as well."
In reviewing the band's recent set at SXSW, Spin magazine raved that the current seven-piece version of Midlake, complete with four guitars, was an "altogether woollier and more impressive beast" than on record, and suggested they get booked at Stonehenge. What turned Midlake into a woollier beast?
First Published April 1, 2010 12:00 am
