Miserly or misunderstood?

Malcolm Middleton is known for two things: being one half of the semi-legendary anti-folk outfit Arab Strap, and being a Falkirk-bred purveyor of downbeat indie rock in general. When performing either of these roles, he is consistently labelled as miserable. Surely, though, there's more to the musician than unflappable grumpiness? And so, with a new album on the shelves and a planned performance date during the Edinburgh festival, I set out to see whether he's ready to sneak a smile.

Waxing Gibbous is Middleton’s fifth solo effort. It marks a return to the sound of his third offering, A Brighter Beat – the album which, in 2007, saw him receive critical and commercial attention close to that which he enjoyed with his former band, Arab Strap. By contrast, album number four, Sleight of Heart, was an altogether more low key, but nonetheless beautiful, acoustic effort. Was this change of sound something deliberate?

“No; it’s just a progression I think," says Middleton. "A Brighter Beat was just me trying to make a big indie, pop album. And Sleight Of Heart was me doing the opposite because I was sick of that, and wanting to make a quiet acoustic record. I like taking quiet acoustic songs and building them into something bigger. I guess that’s just what I’ve done again [in Waxing Gibbous].”

Indeed, Gibbous’ tracks are certainly big, with the majority of the songs clocking in way over five minutes. The drum machine and electronic beats so often heard in Arab Strap’s work returns, and the record features snippets of Middleton playing slap bass, call-and-response vocals with the Fence Records founders King Creosote and the Pictish Trail and even, would you believe, an instance of rapping. “I think for the new album I was listening to a lot of early Madonna records and 80s pop," he muses. "I’ve not made an 80s pop album, but it’s definitely an influence there."

If not 80s pop, then how about 70s rock? He has, in the past, gone as far as to describe lead single and opening track ‘Red Travellin’ Socks' as his ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. He reverts, however, to a typically modest assessment of it when I press him. “That’s just because the song’s too long. It’s got far too many parts.”

Unimpressed, perhaps, with his own move into musical extravagances—be they the 70s or 80s flavour—this will be Middleton’s last solo album for the foreseeable future: “I’m not taking a break,” he stresses. “It’s just I’m not going to do any Malcolm Middleton records; it’s been the same subject matter for a good few years, and I’m kind of sick of writing about every little thought I have, and trying to turn it into a song. So I’m just going to try and do different instrumental projects, try and start a new band, do collaborations and stuff.”

Could these collaborations involve the aforementioned Fence Records chaps perhaps? “I’m not sure, I mean nothing’s been said. I’d love to work with King Creosote in future but who knows.”

But before that exciting could-be comes the much more real prospect of Middleton at the Edge festival this summer. It's odd to picture the troubadour flaunting it amongst Edinburgh's August collection of luvvies and extroverts. Fans probably couldn’t imagine Malcolm sitting through an interpretive dance production. “I really wish that I did go to more things,” he laments. “I’ve been through a few times occasionally over the years, but it’s not something that’s a big thing in my calendar. But that’s just because I’m quite agoraphobic. I should definitely try to get out, see more of the comedy. It might cheer me up.”

And there's the rub. The latter comment reflects an air of melancholy that has dogged Middleton, with critics consistently designating him as miserable, or bracketing his lyrics as downbeat. Surely this gets to the man, maybe even affecting the way he approaches his albums?

“It doesn’t bother me; I just think it’s quite lazy. I mean if you look at most of the history of pop and rock music right back to blues and stuff it’s all about people having a bad time. It’s not all sweetness and light, so I don’t know why I get singled out for singing about my condition and my experiences and stuff.

“It’s obvious if you do a low tempo song or sing about a certain thing you’re going to get tagged. So I don’t’ mind it at all; I’m used to it. I suppose it’s maybe one of the things that’s making me want to do something different for a while, just to get away from my own tags and pigeonholes.”

Well, it’s a fair enough reason, isn’t it? The man clearly has a lot to give, and whatever his next project, it’s sure to be exciting. Middleton will be performing with his full band at the Edge gig, which he describes as “a totally different dynamic,” and which promises to be “quite loud”. It's no ear-to-ear grin – but it'll do.