Midlake may share American Deep South roots with Kings of Leon but these good ole boys might as well be from another planet. They've come to tell tales of making kingfish pies with only one arm and of the forbidden love between a landlord and an air vent inspector ("She's glad that he cares so much about the safety of electrical outlets").
Not exactly issues everyone can relate to - but somehow it makes perfect sense.
They avoid the "look-at-me-I'm-zany" trap of They Might Be Giants because the songs are performed with the fragile sincerity of Gorky's Zygotic Mynci or The Flaming Lips. Also, with the hushed organ taking the music off in unpredictable directions, Bamnan and Slivercock calls to mind a more coherent version of The Beach Boys' Smiley Smile. Sprinkle in some ambling acoustic guitar and strange "what-does-this-button-do?" bleeps and whistles and the effect is magical.
This isn't an album that will come to you. It requires your undivided attention like a piece of quality literature. But if you're prepared to invest the time, you'll be rewarded with a glimpse into a weird and wonderful world.
Listen to this album before you go to sleep: you'll have peculiar (but sweet) dreams.
Article originally published in The Brag, Sydney, 2004.
Article written by Andy McLean. Copyright held by the author.
Bamnan & Silvercock is available through Bella Union.
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