Arthur Beatrice – Midland

Mitch Cole
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Following the success of the band’s last release, “Grand Union“, Arthur Beatrice have premiered the video for their new single “Midland”. Lifted from their debut album Working Out, released February 24th, the band continue to offer up a mature, brooding sound not unlike that of fellow Engish indie band Wild Beasts.

The melancholic combination of wiry guitar, pained piano and swooping percussion encapsulates the dark tone whilst Ella Girardot’s fragile vocals add an unmatched, emotive depth to the song. I was lucky enough to catch Arthur Beatrice live at The Louisiana a few weeks back and their performance of “Midland” was nothing short of wonderful – the chemistry between the members was faultless and the execution was flawless. The final chorus of the song brings all of the components together perfectly and the result is a wholly inspirational feat.

It’s hard to define Arthur Beatrice in one word – comparisons to other contemporaries come thick and fast in that they hold the same grandeur as Florence & The Machine, the hopeless emotion of The XX and a similar ethereal beauty to London Grammar. The band fits best into a modern UK indie genre: the finely produced,  perfectly layered, understated musings of the young middle class. Arthur Beatrice stand alone in their efforts, with much of their buzz coming from blog posts in years gone by, but their debut album, perfectly crafted and produced over several years by the quartet themselves, promises to be one of excellence.

“Midland” is out now. Working Out is released February 24th.

About Mitch Cole

The love child of all seven dwarves, Bristol will always be home to me. With an unusual degree in Early Years Education, I'm keen to get my teeth into something new. Excited to write about anything and everything, I might even stimulate you with my emphatic opinions and disappointing vocabulary.