I Had A Whale Of A Time

Tatty rugs strewn haphazardly across the stage, a minature guitar and a lead singer mumbling a slightly American - accented greeting is hardly what you'd expect to greet a noisy crowd on a Friday night in Camden. The waiting masses, however, fully anticipated the presence of twee rugs and array of string instruments, although with their awaited folk conquerers hailing from Twickenham, the welcoming accent comes as slightly more of a surprise.

Noah and the Whale are perhaps best known for their song, 'Five Years Time', which is a great pity as although it is undeniably catchy, it comes nowhere even near close to showcasing what the band are fully capable of. With lead singer Charlie Finks' heart wrenching lyrics and an eerie violin accompaniment, their latest album, 'The First Days of Spring' is nothing short of haunting, and hearing this live has yet a much greater effect on your emotional state than the record itself does.

Predominantly showcasing their latest work though still intertwining some of their debut tracks into the set, the atmosphere in Koko was a bizarre mixture of anticipation and anguish. The lyrics feel so personal and Fink is so involved in his words that it feels like he is about to burst into tears at any monent and you're not sure whether you should rush the stage to give him a hug or creep off to the bar and give him a moment alone. Seeing as their latest endeavour charts Fink's break up with fellow folk singer Laura Marling (who also features in vocals on their first album), it's hardly surprising that the general persona of the band radiates vulnerability. It can't be easy to sing about losing a love every night for a month as you trek around the county on tour and the band are also therefore understandly less than impressed when they have to stop because some members of the audience are talking so loudly that they almost start to drown the music out. As Fink quips, 'I know that often during the quieter songs the temptation is to discuss the concert... But maybe in this instance you should listen and discuss it after.' Despite ironically loud shushings from the rest of crowd to the noisemakers, the band continue and work their way through an angst driven set.

Anyone who readily palms Noah and the Whale off as a lightweight folk band are sorely misguided, and the band's eagerness to include electric guitar riffs and loop machines into their set are enthusiastically included to demonstrate otherwise. The leap between their first and second albums is so noticeably impressive that any doubts that may have previously existed about whether the band can develop comprehensively enough in order to retain their credibility have been shattered. Pair this with their emotionally absorbing live shows and Noah and the Whale have nothing but Blue Skies waiting ahead of them.

www.myspace.com/noahandthewhale