The Courage of Others is the lusted after follow-up to Midlake"s 2006 cult classic The Trials of Van Occupanther. Existing outside the plane of trends and even time, Midlake has once again conjured a novel world, but one that seems to have existed forever. Looms of intricately textured keyboards, flute, guitars and voice are woven into broad cloaks of sound, all riding the wave of songwriter Tim Smith s sweeping vocals. Recorded over the course of two years in their Denton, Texas studio, The Courage of Others is the result of the band"s quest to create a complete work. It is an album in the classic sense, meant to be digested in a single sitting and given the opportunity to become more than its constituent parts. Here the band blends early Brit folk influences with thick-throated guitars to propel themselves toward new sounds and emotions. Creeping and epic, The Courage of Others is positioned to be the latest installment in the important and everevolving discography of one of modern music"s most unique torchbearers.