A forest of lexis, deep but monochromatic in its delivery, The Courage of Others from Texans Midlake might be faithful to its album title. Don’t get me wrong. Talented frontman Tim Smith’s vocals are unchanging, unpretentious and cavernous, but slightly unconvincing this time around. Maybe it was an intentional shot at sounding effortless, and in so doing, lacking the courage or verve. At first glance of the mystical cover art and track listing, there’s a possibility of misconstruing it for targeting the occult or the recluse, but it actually balances on a fine line between folk and psychedelic indie, with nods to the 70s in Fortune. Opening with the strong hook of Acts of Man, it might just draw you into the Core of Nature, with an affinity to the sounds of the flute. Smith warbles, “I sit in awe of all the creation.” Altogether, the album is worth checking out even though it tends to just drone on. I’m just not sure who it’s geared towards or to what end it serves as its purpose. Perhaps, it is an uncomplicated confession of fear and the envy of other people’s bravery, and in that way, I guess I can empathize. But despite the poignant lyrics, “Thinking the world is mine to be lost in,” I draw the line at prancing around in hooded white robes in the thick of the woodlands. It’s just plain creepy.
Key Tracks: Acts of Man, Fortune, Rulers, Ruling All Things
Moods: Soothing, Cerebral, Dreamy, Reflective, Wistful, Summery
