"Albion" : Harp's new release

Midlake veteran keeps the faith

A powerful arc from loss to tender resolve underpins the disarmingly lovely return from former Midlake singer Tim Smith, joined by wife Kathi Zung. Merging Brit-folk’s thickets with echoes of The Cure/Cocteau Twins, Albion resists “medieval re-enactment society” puns with its sincere, searching beauty. 

Ceremonial opener The Pleasant Grey leads elegantly into I Am The Seed, where Smith revisits break-ups – band/marriage lines blur - in saddened slow-motion. From here, Albion steers towards romantic and creative self-rediscovery, summoning a palpable sense of re-emergence between the hymnal Chrystals and Country Cathedral Drive. 

While Shining Spires recalls Smith’s formative Radiohead fixations, Seven Long Suns looks with bruised gratitude on midlife love. 

Finally, the church-y (and Mark Hollis-ish) Herstmonceux reaches a state of serene resolution: a gorgeous closing note for a bittersweet and beautiful album of faith and its hard-sought gifts.