MIDNIGHT LION

Words by Ben Blackburn

Scotland is continuing to provide us with an influx of fresh new musical talent, and this week sees Glaswegian duo Midnight Lion thrust into the spotlight. Having originally met at university in 2004, Midnight Lion took shape in late 2009 and gained immediate attention amongst the Scottish blogging community, including the very esteemed Peenko blog. In that time Midnight Lion have steadily developed their enigmatic pop sound, and can now boast of airplay on Jo Whiley’s BBC Radio 2 show, along with exclusive features on the NME website and ultra cool blog Abeano.

‘Sleeping in the Woods’ is Midnight Lion’s latest recording, after the band released their debut single last year, and it’s a fine example of why we should all be whirring with excitement in anticipation of the band’s album due out this year. Dark and brooding, ‘Sleeping in the Woods’ is full of soaring vocals and blistering climaxes, which eventually leaves the listener in the shade of a melancholic afterglow. It is abundantly clear from this track that Midnight Lion are meticulous in the way they craft their sound, as each punch of percussion is matched by an impassioned period of piano, with the track laced together with subtle electronica sounds. Kompakt duo Walls recently remixed the ‘Sleeping in the Woods’, and I strongly recommend you add both of these tracks to your new playlist for 2012.

Today's tip comes courtesy of Chris from I Love Pop Noodle