The Courage of Others

Released in 2010, The Courage of Others represents a significant stylistic pivot for Midlake. Following the success of The Trials of Van Occupanther, which leaned into warm, Fleetwood Mac-inspired soft rock, frontman Tim Smith led the band toward a much darker, British folk-influenced sound. Drawing inspiration from 1960s and 70s acts like Fairport Convention and Pentangle, the album is characterized by its heavy use of minor keys, modal melodies, and prominent flute arrangements. The recording process was notoriously difficult, with the band reportedly scrapping an entire album's worth of material before settling on this starker direction. The result is a cohesive, almost hermetic work that prioritizes atmosphere and texture over traditional indie-rock dynamics. It stands as the final Midlake album to feature Smith, making it a singular, haunting bookend to his tenure with the group.