you're from where?

you'll find the middle east actually hail from way up north - townsville to be exact, but i'd have these guys anywhere.

the buzz surrounding the middle east has been steadily getting louder and louder over the past few weeks, and i'm lucky enough to work with a dude, who knows a dude, who had the record, so have been happily listening to the recordings of the middle east for a month or two now.

the band actually released their mini LP the recordings of the middle east last year, and were selling them through their website. But super smart Spunk Records obviously knew they had stumbled upon a winner after hearing the middle east and luckily for anyone with ears, they have just re-issued the record.

with 5 tracks to choose from, the listening experience is short, but oh so sweet. 'blood' is beautiful, and when the tinkly and tingly xylophone kicks in about one minute in, it's the stuff that shivers are made from. and by the end of the track, the horn section almost has me packing my bags for north qld. also, i think because of the xylophone, it reminds me a lot of fat segal's 'kissn emeth', which serves as the theme song to my latest favourite bbc obsession skins. go and check it out by clicking here. useful tip - if you're ever having an insomnia moment, i highly recommend watching skins - it's pacifying in the realisation that whatever is bothering you, you're probably never going to be as f%#ked as the characters in this show.

while you're clicking on links, the middle east are right here. the page is pretty scant for info, but the two tracks they've got up for your listening pleasure, are probably actually my favourite off the album. the aforementioned 'blood' and the slower, guitar based 'the darkest side'.

the middle east produce songs that make me simultaneously happy and sad - the vocals, whether boy or girl, are raw yet tuneful. the lyrics make me contemplate, and think that i wish i knew the people who had written these words. speaking of words, word on the street is that these townsville kids are going to be heading round the country on a national tour tres soon - so buy some tickets, take a loved one and enjoy. x