The Middle East are a group out of Australia that made some serious noise back a few years ago with their The Recordings of The Middle East EP which featured some great songs, including a fairly well known hit “Blood”. I Want That You Are Always Happy is the debut full length from the band and they have taken their indie-folk leanings and spread it around over a full LP this time around, and while there are probably not any moments on this album that really top the highs from the EP, there are still some very solid songs in here and for those looking for some meandering indie-folk can probably find something to like here. They definitely sort of tread the line between a few upbeat songs and some really dreary, dark types of songs, probably trending much more heavily to the latter on this record. The potential shown in their early work doesn’t necessarily give way to brilliance here, but there are some great songs along the way.
They definitely have sort of entrenched themselves at a few times on this record in very long, drawn out expressions of some introspective indie-folk songs. Long players like “Dark Water” and the haunting “Mount Morgan”, as well as songs like “Black Death 1349″ are examples of this sort of almost period piece indie-folk drama that the band seems to revel in at times on the record, and while at times it works, for the most part it can kind of wear on after a little while.
For me, where the record shines is in the lighter and more airy interlopes along the way that feature more sing-songy construction and a seemingly more haphazard and less heavy handed approach. This is first most-evident in “Land Of The Bloody Unknown” and the sublimely catchy “Months”, as well as “Dan’s Silverleaf”, named after the local Denton venue of which the band are quite fond. One of the better moments combining the sort of measured folk approach and levity is in the song “Ninth Avenue Reverie” which echoes many shades of great 70s folk ballads and is just one of those simple yet endearing kinds of songs.
This is an album that doesn’t really rewrite the book on the indie folk genre by any stretch, and while there are some real ear catching moments throughout the record and some very good songs, the album really becomes a little sluggish and heavy-handed at times which makes it a tough album to really wrap your arms around fully. There are some nice moments here, and this is definitely a band I recommend keeping tabs on going forward (and seeing live as well), as they have some great talent and can write some great songs, but the album doesn’t quite get all the way there in delivering on the great potential this band has shown before. Some very nice tracks among a few tougher ones, but the good ones are worth a listen for sure.
“Months” by The Middle East from I Want That You Are Always Happy
“Hunger Song” by The Middle East from I Want That You Are Always Happy
“Deep Water” by The Middle East from I Want That You Are Always Happy
