You Should Know
Info on this band is scant. I've ascertained the following information: (a) The Middle East is from Australia. (b) The Middle East broke up at some point. Now their frustratingly uninformative Myspace page says (not finished) after their name. For the love of Buddha, let this mean the band has decided to stay together after all. If this isn't the case then I'm willing to trade a finger and a 6-pack of grape sodas for their resurrection. There are talentless overpaid hacks plastered all over the television and spewing worthless dreck through radio airwaves, and then there are unknown bands like The Middle East huddled into dingy basement practice spaces creating gorgeous music filled with complexity and heart. It's sad how most of the worthwhile art is created in anonymity. The band's album The Recordings Of The Middle East combines lush folk-rock with ambient flourishes. The absolutely stunning "Blood" establishes itself with sparse guitar and keys, verses sung with a disarming fragility, and ethereal background vocals. When the song crescendos into its full band gorgeousness, you realize you're listening to something special. If you like what you hear, spread the word. This band is too damn good to be overlooked. -- Capt. Obvious
10.24.2008
The Middle East
at 3:58 AM
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21 comments:
ooh, excellent tunes. I am now officially a big fan of The Middle East. :)
This is exactly what I think of when I think of Australian indie. Kinda like "Alt Country" and Athens, Georgia, and Sigur Ros when I think of Iceland. Well, imho if I had to say.
Nice find cap.
do you have their entire album? if so, where did you get it? Am def greatly admiring both of those tunes. have had them on repeat all night.
http://rapidshare.com/files/129120900/Middle_East__The_-_The_Recordings_Of_The_Middle_East_-_2008.zip
quite possibly one of the finest albums of 2008, the whole thing is magnificent, sure hope they get back together, i think with a little exposure these guys and gals could be huge
Hey there they are friends of mine. And i can assure you that they are now back together and will begin touring Australia early next year!
+ For more info on the band (they are not broken up and have tour dates listed):
www.triplejunearthed.com.au/TheMiddleEast
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Middle+East
+ Other blog mentions of The Middle East:
http://whothehell.net/archives/2303
http://laughingevergreens.blogspot.com/2009/01/song-of-morning-blood.html
+ Their myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/visitthemiddleeast
oh yes they are magnificent. does anyone know where to find lyrics to -the darkest side? its such a beautiful song :]
is this the sigur ros of australia?
hey Roxy did you try songmeanings.net?
I just discovered them myself. GLORIOUS!
I was about to post "The Darkest Side" on my own blog for people to fall in love with. The first time the female vocals come in - WOW!
sssssooooo gooood!
"son, if i died on my bedroom floor, would you cry on your bedroom floor and tattoo my name underneath your arm ohhh"
i agree about the female vocals in the darkest side. they are playing up the road from me this friday with another amazing band named augie march so i'm very excited about that.
id just like to say what a brilliant album and thankyou to triple j for playing this wonderful band and giving them some exposure
Hey, The middle East are about to get some free film clips done up for them by Year 12 FTV students at Trinity Bay State High School in Cairns. So I presume this means that they are still together. They'll be done in about two months and you'll probably see them around.
I too heard them played on triple J this week. The Daest side was so beautiful I literaly had to pull over while driving to listen. Can't wait to add it as a cover in my own band. Hope we can do it justice
I too heard them played on triple J this week. The Daest side was so beautiful I literaly had to pull over while driving to listen. Can't wait to add it as a cover in my own band. Hope we can do it justice
A band from Townsville, Australia.
Playing at "Splendour in the Grass" this weekend.
Beautiful.
Im from Los Angeles and I heard this band on KCRW radio last night. I'm already in LOVE. I would love to find or buy any album they may have! I hope the best for these guys they are awesome!. And if anyone from the band is reading this... "come to LA!! I will be there!" Woo!Woo!
I must have listens to this album a thousand times by now and every time the album artwork comes up on my ipod i take the time to take it in, Its such a beautiful painting.
does any one know the artist? i'd love a print!
i just saw these guys at the big day out. absolutely amazing. they were everything i anticipated and more, and i am so grateful that i had the opportunity to see them. i even met the female vocalist and got a photo with her!
You got your wish captain obvious. Hottest 100 inductees with songs at number 87 and 64. You've probably never heard of triple J's hottest 100, but its a big deal in Australia. So they're pretty much set for stardom. I grew up in the same town as these guys and its a shithole. Makes me proud that something good came out of such a horrible place.
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