Just moments ago, I opened a new tab to one of my favourite music blogs, Jonk Music, to catch up on what I’ve missed over the last few days, and was pleasantly surprised to see Midlake occupying the top post.

It’s so fitting, too, because I was thinking of the band earlier today; they released my favourite album of 2006/2007, The Trials of Van Occupanther.

The album was essentially on repeat for a year, and Grant and I were even lucky enough to to be in Montreal at the same time they were (with indie-darling St. Vincent as their headliner, before anyone knew who she was).  They put on a fantastic show, then they disappeared for three years.

Well, they’ve probably been touring. But no new material.

Which is why the release of their new album, called The Courage of Others, is so exciting! Their distinctive sound of pretty five-part harmonies, and lush, 70s-style instrumentation seems to have remained intact. I have yet to listen to the entire album, but the first song Acts of Man seems to be a good indication of what’s to come.

Midlake – Acts of Man

(By the way, this is the first of a new weekly feature I’m going to do called Music Mondays. I’ll probably focus on newer artists, or new releases from bands that have been around for awhile.)