Two MeDiCiNe

Astropsychosis 7/10

A blissed-out solo outing for Midlake’s Paul Alexander

Tim Smith’s sudden departure from Texan prog-folk-pop explorers Midlake allowed the rest of the band’s creative impulses to come to the fore with terrific results on 2013’s Antiphon. developed over 15 months of writing and recording in Midlake’s old denton studio, this solo project by bassist Paul alexander has the same air of liberation. draped in shimmering synths and alexander’s hushed, david Gilmour-like vocals, beatific psychpop songs such as “Will Not” and

Astropsychosis’s title track sound like they’re constantly about to dissipate into the ether. But like the most liquid passages of Tame impala’s Currents, it’s all underpinned by surprisingly muscular rhythms and unified by the clarity of purpose that Midlake regained in their rejuvenation.