A new state of mind
January 10, 2003
BY JIM DeROGATIS POP MUSIC CRITIC

"I lost my shadow," Midstates guitarist and vocalist Paul Heintz sings on the opening track of the band's extraordinary new album, "Shadowing Ghosts." "Need my shadow to fall behind."

Like a shadow on an intermittently overcast day, the dreamy pop band's music can be elusive and slippery. But when the sun bursts through the clouds in the form of an indelible chorus, a beautiful bridge on the piano, or a fiery guitar solo, the effect is dramatic and revealing.

"From the beginning, we made a definite point of saying there's got to be a song underneath all the lyrics because we don't want it to be just aimless noodling. I mean, we do our fair share of that, because it's fun. But to me that's the biggest change from the last record to the new record: We tried to add, like, official bridges," Heintz says, laughing.

The band first came together about seven years ago around Heintz and Stephen Munoz, who plays Wurlitzer electric piano and synthesizers, in their native Calumet City. Heintz's major influence was the ethereal guitar rock of the early '90s bands in England's so-called shoegazer movement, including groups such as Ride, My Bloody Valentine, Lush and Slowdive. Since then, the pair has played with a procession of fellow musicians who've come and gone, including, by Heintz's estimate, some 50 drummers. We've always had a problem with drummers, until now, he says, chuckling again.

In his role as bandleader and primary songwriter, Heintz readily admits that he is a bit of a Billy Corgan-like taskmaster, but it's all in the name of a good cause.

"Everybody's working and none of us make a lot of money and they're all giving me this time, so I'm kind of like the hand of tough love--like we've only got four hours so let's not fool around, let's do this. When we rehearse, it's all business. We just have to take our vitamins, and everyone understands. It's not Stalinesque."

Over the years, the group has built a strong reputation as a live act at local clubs, and it has released several impressive independent recordings, including the 2001 album "Mathing Moonlight" under the rather unwieldy name Novasonic Down Hyperspace.

"There were some other members in the group when we started who wanted the name to be Novasonic, but I always hated that name, so I tacked on the Down Hyperspace," Heintz says. "It was horrible, but over the years it just kind of stuck. Eventually all the people that were in the band back then were gone, and Steve and I realized that we hated that name. We'd get reviews, and if they were four sentences long, the first three sentences would be about how bad the name was! So we needed a change.

"At the same time, we thought the new record was clearer, a little bit shorter, and more focused. We were trying to be more concise about everything, and we thought a new name would help that along. At the same time, we wanted it be something that was related, because we still respect everything we've done before. The last song on 'Mathing Moonlight' was called 'Midstates of Mind,' so the new name became Midstates. And I've got to tell you, changing that name was the best thing I've ever done. Doors have been opening for us like you wouldn't believe."

The increased attention being paid to the band by the local music scene isn't merely a result of the new name: the current quintet of Heintz, Munoz, bassist Adam Province, second guitarist Michael Dahlman, second keyboardist Sasha Armstrong and drummer Angel Ledezma is the band's best lineup yet, capable of zooming from a lulling, spacey, and hypnotic drone to a nearly overwhelming wall of sound at the drop of a backbeat. And "Shadowing Ghosts," which was recorded entirely at Heintz's home studio, is the group's finest and most mature recording, a collection of mysterious, ambient soundscapes such as "Not Sure," "Cold of Fall" and "Clear the Clouds" that never skimp on melody or rock 'n' roll drive.

"Again, the best way I can describe it is to say that were just more focused now. We used to put tons of reverb on everything," Heintz says, laughing, "and everybody used to feel compelled to be playing something all the time. Now, there's a lot more space, and were very fortunate to have a group of people who all understand the big picture. I do think this is the best thing we've done."

Midstates is gearing up to tour in support of the new album, and it will follow a powerful performance during its recent record release party at the Empty Bottle by opening for Krautrock legend Damo Suzuki at the Fireside Bowl, 2648 W. Fullerton, on Feb. 22.

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