Midlake's A Bridge To Far: My Song of the Week and Album of the Year

Neil Morton
6 days ago
4 min read

Neil Morton

Midlake have been in mischievous mood, creating a cryptic album title to confuse the grammarians among us. Think of Far as a place, and the ‘to’ rather than ‘too’ makes sense. A Bridge To Far is a beautiful track, our final Song Of The Week of 2025 at herecomesthesong.com, and my favourite album of the year.

The six-piece band from Denton, Texas, are at their shimmering finest, their luscious harmonies befitting a lustrous backdrop. The title track and much of the album offer hope and escapism, their bridge to a dreamy refuge representing a tempting combination in the world right now.

There’s pain upon, you’re saddened on and on

You’re tired, don’t want to bleed again

The gloves are off, the battle’s on

But you don’t want to be there when

Climb upon a bridge to far

Go anywhere your heart desires

Mornings will be oh so kind

So climb upon a bridge to far

Their sixth album is a psychedelia-bathed triumph, far removed from their jazzy beginnings in 1999 and their finest since their breakthrough with The Trials Of Van Occupanther nearly 20 years ago. Which is saying something given the brilliance of 2010’s The Courage Of Others and For The Sake Of Bethel Woods in 2022. Musically, they are taking risks, and risk-taking in life is a theme of the album.

Singer-guitarist Eric Pulido, who assumed the role of chief songwriter in 2012 following the departure of the estimable Tim Smith, says: ‘This is an album about hope. Not in some abstract sense, but as a human necessity. Hope is a need. To look beyond, above what is. We can all relate on many varying levels.’ On the title track, with the drop of a vowel, he turns the doom of the old war film into an optimistic journey. In fact, it bears all the hallmarks of a cinematic soundtrack.

The wane and wax has rattled on and on

You see the holes, don’t fall into them

It’s slowly in your rearview mirror

As long as you can see your way in

Wasn’t all in your head, we said

Fate would have it their way, man

Time after time

Go bravely arm in arm

And climb upon a bridge, a bridge to far

Pulido has provided a track-by-track rundown for the Dallas Observer. The radiant opener Days Gone By is a gorgeous aperitif, the accompanying video featuring a dancing figure, Ted Lasso actor James Lance, who is a Midlake diehard. ‘I go on a walk every morning,’ says Pulido. ‘I see the sun come up, I see the clouds, the moon, just the elements. I’ve always tried to remind myself of just that: I shouldn’t be entitled to expect this beauty around me.’ A joyous, flitting flute echoes the sound of a new day awakening.

The spooky demons confronted by The Ghouls, which began as a discussion about band members’ goals, offer an urgent gear shift as well as wordplay. Madison Cunningham’s call-and-response duet with frontman Pulido in Guardians reminds us of the high calibre of her own recent release, Ace. The late decision to invite Cunningham was taken in the studio, and Pulido believes she elevated the track.

Eyes Full Of Animal, a song about survival and resilience, and the cathartic Within/Without are further standouts. Lyrically, The Calling is Pulido up close and personal, with Jesse Chandler and producer Sam Evian duelling on saxophones. The Valley Of Roseless Thorns, one of my colleague Phil Shaw’s Top 10 Songs of the Year, brings the album to a serene, hymn-like conclusion as Pulido leaves a question hanging: ‘In the end, what was all of this for?’

Evian proved an inspired and inspiring fit for the band whose members also include guitarist Joey McClellan, Eric Nichelson (keyboards, guitar), drummer McKenzie Smith and Scott Lee on bass. Multi-instrumentalist Chandler has added flute to his portfolio and provides ethereal Tull moments from the opening notes.

‘Everything felt effortless and authentic,’ Pulido says. ‘We didn’t overthink things. Even after all these years, the motivation remains rooted in connection. We love one another. It’s still a challenge to carve out time with all that’s going on in our lives, but when we’re able, it’s a cherished experience.’

A cherished experience for listeners too.