By Jeremy Hannaford (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: November 6, 2013
The best albums are those you can listen to it while driving, the ones you can enjoy but don’t have to fully focus on, making the drive mellow and entertaining. Midlake’s new album Antiphon does just that.
Definitely a mellow indie rock kind of band, Midlake’s album opens with the title track, which is cool and echoing. The second track, “Provider” keeps the tune going and further establishes a smooth rocking movement of my head. The third track, “The Old and the Young,” is the perfect driving tune, with a fluid beat and great accompanying lyrics.
When I came to this track, I realized two things. The first was that this will be in my car’s CD collection when it comes out, and the second was it kind of sounded like I was listening to The Shins. Midlake is a little slower than their music, but follow a very similar rhythm. And I didn’t mind.
The similarities are everywhere: the cave-like echo effect on the voice, the simple yet sophisticated beat – an overhanging bass and electronic tune are the real differences between the two bands. Midlake also check Radiohead as an inspiration. But even with all these similarities, Antiphon still has some surprises up its sleeve.
Halfway through, “Vale” comes along and changes the scene with an all-out instrumental jam. The first half is rough and loud with a sense of emerging calamity. But then it changes to a soft crescendo as a guitar plays harsh cords in the background. After that, it slowly brings itself back to the earlier chaos and continues until its climactic finish. This song is one of my favorite tracks on the album; I love watching artists just jam it out on stage during performances and I am very pleased that Midlake provided one for this album.
But there are some downs with the album. Right after “Vale” comes the awkward “Aurora Gone,” which tries to combine similar vocals from “Provider” alongside the soft piece just played in “Vale.” Albums should always fluctuate between fast and slow, but “Aurora Gone” doesn’t fit in well with the rest of Antiphon. The same can be said of “Ages” and “This Weight.” Somehow Midlake’s slower tracks don’t work for me.
At least, that’s the case until “Corruption.” Tim Smith’s vocals supply a haunting chill while Evan Jacobs contributes a simple yet striking background piano piece, and the rest of the band builds around the song. It’s interesting to hear.
Another surprising track is “Provider Reprise.” A redux of their own song, but taken from a different angle, “Provider” is this time played as an oriental inspiration with harp tunes and lucid guitar strings. They make for an interesting mix.
All in all, Antiphon is a different experience for me, and I enjoyed this album. While there are a few forgettable songs, Midlake produces solid numbers at the beginning and the end of the album, which makes up for the less appealing middle.
