'The Courage of Others' - Midlake

I imagine that Midlake have the wherewithal to make a compelling record but this just isn't it. Their last record 'The Trials of Van Occupanther' offered glimpses of the direction the band could take but despite the fact that the band were clearly and deliberately creating their own niche, the album meandered whimsically, its classic rock revisionism becoming tediously overwhelming. On this, their third album, Midlake have stayed true to the same formula on 'Van Occupanther' but by now, it's becoming a tired sound. Worse still there's no 'Bandits' or 'Roscoe' to rescue the record from its self-consuming and self-indulgent banality. Judge for yourself below. The band will play Vicar Street on Valentine's Day.