Midlake - 'Roscoe' (Bella Union) Released 31/07/06

Just when the entire subject matter catalogue of rock from getting plastered to slaying dragons seemed exhausted, Midlake gallop forth with a banality-dodging ode to stonecutters. Rather than the secret cult familiar to Simpsons fans, alas, 'Roscoe' concerns the constructing skills of the craftsmen in the mythical late 19th century backwoods community that provides the backdrop for the Denton, Texas five-piece's latest batch of songs. Their handiwork expertise is comparable only to Midlake's tune-building prowess, and this is one of the prime picks amongst an ample embarrassment of gems on the band's second LP 'The Trials of Van Occupanther'. Musically, turning back the clocks to circa 1973 - 'Roscoe' marries a CCR chug to a crunching Crazy Horse groove, sprinkling the riveting results with sumptuous soft-rock melodies and a bombardment of breezy CSNY harmonies - isn't the freshest of tricks, but actually rivaling the peaks of those arcane inspirations, which 'Roscoe' pulls off with ease, is an awe-inspiring coup. No wonder Midlake and '...Van Occupanther' have been bathing in plaudits of late. Equal amounts soothe and sizzle, 'Roscoe' is a gleaming chapel in a musical landscape littered with tatty parking halls.