I came at Fair To Midland totally by accident. I had gone to a gig to watch Periphery (I think on one of their early tour)s and they opened up for these guys, who were headlining. I don’t think they are still around, as they haven’t done anything since 2013. Serge Tankian signed them to his label for this, their major label debut that came out in 2007, and this is an MOV reissue.
First track in is what hooked me into them, Dance of The Manatee. The melody and hook are so infectious it just sucks you in. Yup, it’s my favourite track. A band that are very hard to describe. They are Prog, with a hint of metal, and a huge indie vibe, if that makes sense. Kyla Cries Cologne has a big guitar riff with a killer melodic hook and vocal. Vice Versa has a very emo style riff and groove at the start, then the Prog vibes abound. If this is not a prog song title I don’t know what is: The Wife The Kids, And The White Picket Fence. I mean with an imagination as wild as these guys, they sit beautifully in the Prog landscape. This is such a beautiful piece.
April Fools And Eggmen, A Seafarers Knot, A Seafarers Knot, and A Wolf Descends Upon The Spanish Sahara – all these titles scream prog and the album is an undeniable modern Prog masterpiece, albeit with a modern twist. If you don’t know them or own this, then I suggest you rectify that at your earliest convenience.
10/10 from The Grooveman.
