The Trials Of Van Occupanther (studio album) by Midlake

This album should give off a warm feeling of familiarity for those who love 70's soft rock. An enchanting album that gushes with beautiful moodiness and harmony laden ballads, creating a rustic back to nature ambience. The work is finely layered so sometimes the meticulous complex diverse instrumentation only reveals itself after many listens. The lyrics and songs are linked by a theme of love and loss which permeates throughout and is appropriately underscored by some exquisite melodies. One of the best albums of 2006 without a doubt.

Just discovered this album. This is one of the most beautiful albums from the 2000's! Beautiful melodies and harmonies. Great voice. With a seventies feel.

From Strangel 12/06/2016 21:06

Saw them at the Meredith Music Festival many years ago. I went away from that festival wanting to hear more of them and another group called Band of Horses. Both bands had great albums that I went and bought immediately. This is the one that seems most enduring though. It's a cracking album that they haven't been able to match since. Definitely a retro 70s feel but with a richer noughties sound.

From buzzdainer 03/18/2016 16:12

I'm not normally a huge fan of concept albums, but when I hear a good one, I think I like it even better than a conventional collection of tracks. This one centers on a lovelorn, nostalgia-ridden protagonist named Van Occupanther, who must have lived in some mythical past surrounded by dense forests, soaring woodwinds, and spacey production lost somewhere in the Fleetwood Mac-era seventies. Sign me up. This is a fantastic album with very few creative missteps.

Really something special going on here. Shocking it isn't more popular.

I love this album! Song after song of bittersweet gorgeousness! It is probably the most underrated LP here on the site, especially considering Fleet Foxes stole it wholesale for their debut. It really repays the effort of repeated listening. Give it a chance to improve your world.

From jhuik 07/13/2014 23:42

The thing about keeping on listening to music is that every once in a while you discover something completely underground and apparently forgotten by time yet really brilliant. Wow.

From Hayden 03/07/2013 23:10

They have a few versions of Roscoe, and sadly my favourite version wasn't put on the album.. But it's a brilliant song. Whole bunch of other good songs on here too.

Underrated much?? A damn fine album, thank you some random dude I chatted with online that one time.

Young Bride, We Gathered in Spring

From Jimmy Dread 09/03/2011 12:12

Love this LP. There's a rumour going around that it was conceived to be a soundtrack to the old computer game "The Yukon Trail" - not sure if that's true but I'd love it to be! I read an interview with Tim Smith some time ago where he cited Jimmee Sphreeis' "Isle Of View" as a big inspiration. If you love ...Van Occupanther, I thoroughly recommend you check it out - you will NOT be disappointed!