To be a Bella Union signing you have to hold certain characteristics; have deftness for telling stories about bizarre adventures, have a strange obsession with forests, and have little desire to fit in with the latest musical trends. Midlake then, fit the mould perfectly and join fellow weirdly wonderful bands like My Latest Novel and The Dears. But these delightful oddballs from Texas have crafted a sound that is classic 70s rock layered over quiet organs and keyboards and wistful harmonising. Filling the Tut's stage with all kinds of electronic wizardry and a plethora of guitars, it's clear that these boys are music school geeks. But with all these great sentiments, Midlake often sound a bit too placid. Yet the more upbeat songs like Young Bride, which favour electric guitars and an almost disco beat save the band from cardigan wearing dimness. [Rhona Macalister]