The Middle East are a musical collective based in Townsville in Queensland, Australia. Forming in 2005, the group played locally and completed several East Coast tours throughout Australia. In early 2008 they released an album called The Recordings of The Middle East before splitting up. Eight months after this decision was made, the band reconvened and later re-released an abridged version of the debut album, The Recordings of the Middle East as an EP in May 2009 through Spunk Records (AU). This EP was released in North America on the 27th of October, 2009. The genre of the band themselves is difficult to specify. Whilst their MySpace profile lists the band as "indie", elements of folk, pop, post rock, country and ambience can be found throughout their music. Instruments used include guitar - both electric and acoustic, drums, hand percussion, piano, glockenspiel and trumpet. Another distinguishing feature of the band's music is the use of vocal harmony - in particular close harmony performed at times by several members. The band have gone on to receive national radio airplay on Triple J and slots on several major Australian festivals such as Splendour in the Grass, Big Sound, Homebake, and the Woodford Folk Festival. As well as this, the band have toured with international bands such as British group Doves and have also achieved minor, developing interest in the United States, where The Recordings of The Middle East was released on October 27. Much of the interest surrounding the band can be related back to the blogosphere, with indie blog I Guess I'm Floating introducing the band stateside in May of 2009. Thereafter The Middle East had over one hundred blog entries from around the world writing about the band. Recently, Pitchfork Media offered a free download of the song "The Darkest Side" as a part of their weekly Forkcast; describing the song as "a simple, finger-plucked acoustic affair with alternating and harmonizing vocals that lend the hushed track a sense of beleaguered hope". They also were nominated and won the Triple J 2009 ‘Unearthed’ Award. In October 2009, it was announced that the band would be opening for US band Grizzly Bear in their Melbourne shows. They were also announced as the support act for one of the band's Sydney Festival shows. On November 11 2009, it was announced that the band would be part of the festival Big Day Out, announced as part of the second line up, in East Coast areas. Their songs 'The Darkest Side' and 'Blood' came in at number 87 and 64 respectively on the Australian Triple J Hottest 100 in 2009.http://www.jambase.com/Artists/74432/The-Middle-East/BioCombine the sophisticated chill of a New York City winter with the girlish, laid back romance of California in the summertime and what to you get? The answer is Best Coast, the latest musical endeavor by perennially cool, self-described “weird girl” Bethany Cosentino. Best Coast was born when Cosentino decided to come home to LA after a time in New York City, to get a fresh start at living in the place she knows best—California. Quickly garnering praise from critics and listeners with the single “Sun Was High (So Was I),” Cosentino was approached by UK-based label Blackest Rainbow, who released her now sold-out tape Where the Boys Are. Also in the works are two new 7-inch’s, one being released by San Diego-based Art Fag Recordings and the other, the debut release from brand-new Brooklyn label Group Tightener. Read More...The Middle East are a unique band out of Townsville in Queensland, Australia. They use various influences from post-rock to folk to ambient, creating a magical, hypnotic sound featuring varying instrumentation and gentle, addictive guitar hooks. Various members have at different times played in other North QLD based groups such as Joseph Liddy and the Skeleton Horse and The Forest.In 2006 they released a split EP with local Cairns band Sleeping In Trains.Their debut full-length was released on 24th April 2008. They released their work as an EP in the United States in fall of 2009 and is available here at http://www.themiddleeastmusic.com.Their live shows have been describe as “surreal” and often create a very calm, space-like atmosphere. Recently, Pitchfork Media offered a free download of the song “The Darkest Side” as a part of their weekly Forkcast; describing the song as “a simple, finger-plucked acoustic affair with alternating and harmonizing vocals that lend the hushed track a sense of beleaguered hope.”Their music is often played on triplej (a nationwide Australian radio network) and their song “Blood” is rumoured to be appearing in a film to be released sometime in 2009.(LastFM)