I recall that back in the old Word days there was a lot of love for Midlake’s “Tales of Van Occupanther”. I actually prefer the follow up “Courage of Others”, but anyway after that album the lead singer, Tim Smith, quite and more of less disappeared. There were scant updates that he was working under the band name Harp, but essentially near silence……
Until now. A complete surprise to me, but up pops an interview with him in The Guardian; along with a single “I Am The Seed”. An album will be out on Dec 1st.
Initial thoughts are that it definitely sounds like Midlake of old and I can also hear the Cocteau Twins influence he mentions in the interview. Certainly sounds promising and may be an last minute entry in my albums of the year list.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/15/instant-80s-midlake-tim-smith-harp-william-blake-cure
Quite liking that, I’ll definitely be getting this because I’m a fan of Midlike. I have those two albums you mentioned @Chrisf and the recent ‘For The Sake Of Bethel Woods’ which Tim Smith obviously isn’t a contributor.
I love the bass
I have big love for Midlake, I had them in session once – I hope you dig the mix
tracks:
Briars Frome : Cora’s Lullaby
J. Mascis : Me Again
Mark Kozelek & Desertshore : Livingstone Bramble
Midlake : Aurora Gone
Caravan : Group Girl (demo)
XTC : Millions
Robyn Hitchcock : The Ghost In You
Midlake : I Shall Be Released
The Beatles : Honey Pie (demo)
Ergo Phizmiz : The Flying House
Traffic : You Can All Join In
Midlake : It’s Going Down
John Grant + Midlake : Sigourney Weaver
Moodoid : La Lune
Peter Broderick & Greg Haines : Electric Eel River
Midlake : Antiphon
Jellyfish : Brighter Day