30 November 2010 - 0 Comments

THE MIDNIGHTS
OUTSIDE

Release date: 30 November

The Midnights’ recording process has been fittingly eclectic considering their raw and often unpredictable rocksteady reggae sound.  It has seen them traverse a variety of recording environments from major studios to hastily converted garages only to eventuate in the band finding solace in a council flat with a rudimentary Pro Tools set up.

Recording on the go, The Midnights home studio included broom handles and cinderblocks as mic stands, ancient borrowed guitars, Trade Me organs with missing keys, a cheap novelty drum machine picked up from London’s Notting Hill street market and hastily pinned up posters of Peter Tosh and The Clash adorning the wall for inspiration.

Having now emerged victorious from such capricious conditions, The Midnights have completed their debut LP, Outside, and are set to officially introduce their charming and adventurous low-fi brand of roots-reggae to Aotearoa.

With tracks that range from gentle lilting numbers complete with immaculate three-part vocal harmonies and endearing rocksteady hooks to animated delights with punchy brass, bouncing bass lines, heavy riffs and mates who moonlight as session singers; the debut sees the band incorporate disparate elements to forge a completely distinct and authentic sound.  

To celebrate the achievement that is Outside, The Midnights have gathered some well-know DJ friends to give a few tracks off the album the remix treatment. Over the next few months, the band will be sporadically drip-feeding them as free downloads for fans from their website: http://www.themidnights.co.nz

Having spent their formative years honing their craft playing late night house parties, dive bars and crashing the odd folk evening, The Midnights have amassed a loyal following and in turn, become notorious for their energetic and raw live shows.

It is this talent and passion for live reggae music, which has seen the band leap from its humble origins into the limelight- word of mouth securing them spots at major festivals alongside reggae legends such as The Wailers, UB40, Third World, The Skatalites, Big Youth and Maxi Priest purely on the basis of their formidable live reputation.

Now with their debut Outside certifiably done and dusted the band are once again limbering up for a string of summer shows that eagerly await The Midnights’ respectfully rough and ready, experimental and soulful presence.

OUTSIDE TRACKLISTING:
1. Unsettled
2. Backway
3. Silhouette
4. Come Dance With Me
5. 2 Slow
6. Conspiracies
7. Sword And Dagger
8. Crown Of Fire
9. Outside
10. Anything You Could Do
11. Regeneration
12. Smoke On The Street


Live Performance of “Outside”:
http://tvnz.co.nz/talk-talk/talk-s4-e7-video-3759283

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