Noah and the Whale, Koko, 17/2/11

They say time is a great healer and Noah and the Whale’s showcase of new material from upcoming album Last Night On Earth this evening could not have proved this point further. The previous release of lyrically raw and musically pared-down First Days of Spring saw the band deviate away from the jovial folk-pop sound with which they were initially associated; lead singer Charlie Fink’s break up with folk contemporary Laura Marling was believed to be the driving force behind this change. However, eighteen months later the group have returned with a vigour that will surprise even their biggest fans.

‘Life is Life’ grabs the audience’s attention from the off, with unfamiliar loop beats and heavier riffs emanating from the stage; the only remaining hint of the twee style that threaded throughout their debut album are the lovingly haggard rugs that adorn the floor. Fink struts around with a confidence that was rarely beheld in performances of past, and as he belts out the lyric “he’s gonna change his pace”, it could not seem more fitting. ‘Tonight’s the Night’ demonstrates that the power pop feel heard in their newer tracks is well and truly here to stay, although the country twang demonstrated by the vocals provides an enduring association with their older sound. The band seem to really relish this new-found vitality and ‘Give It All Back’, which Charlie describes as “a song for kids who believe in rock and roll” encapsulates you in such a happy fervour that you feel you could just as easily be skipping along carefree on a warm summer’s day.

                                                                                                         Photo by Rachel Lipsitz

However, upbeat wasn’t the entire plan for the evening and inclusions into the set list of melancholy and poignant tracks from their second album certainly affects the atmosphere in the room. Whilst the haunting ‘First Days of Spring’ causes an eery hush to fall over the bewitched crowd, more desolate tracks ‘I Have Nothing’ and ‘My Door is Always Open’ fail to have the same effect and the noise from various audience members’ conversations sadly dampens any real impression these songs might have created otherwise. Luckily, Charlie soon declares “we’re going to play some songs you can dance along to, if you like”, and ‘Rocks and Daggers’ rejuvenates the mood suitably. ‘Five Years Time’, as always, produces a roar of appreciation from the crowd, although this could soon find itself replaced as fan favourite by new single ‘L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N’. The upbeat lyrics and catchy melody induce a mass singalong and even gets people sitting on their friends’ shoulders (something I never thought I’d see at a Noah gig) and this sense of jubilation ultimately creates the perfect end to the evening.

Tonight certainly marks the start of a new phase in Noah and the Whale’s career, but it is far from unwelcome. The response is hugely positive both from the crowd and the band members themselves, all of whom seem far more assertive and involved than on previous occassions; violinist Tom Hobden in particular steps to the forefront by assisting on vocal duties.

Their development as a band as they perform tracks from each of their three albums tonight is apparent, and their newly acquired desire to experiment with sounds and styles is at times subtle, but admirable nonetheless. I for one, cannot wait to see how these guys evolve from here on and sincerely hope that they retain the confidence to continue doing so.

This review was originally posted on www.culturedeluxe.com

Noah and the Whale, Roundhouse, 12/3/10

Taking a break from recording their upcoming third album, tonight sees Noah And The Whale return for a one-off gig at the venue where they launched their debut album two years ago.

The opening track is a choral-backed ‘Love Of An Orchestra’, which sets the musical tone for the rest of the evening, with rich, melodic violins and commanding bursts of trumpets. The band emphatically propel themselves through a set-list comprised predominantly of tracks from their lyrically raw second album, with ‘I Have Nothing’ amusingly causing lead singer Charlie to declare that he wished he’d come up with better song names. Legendary pedal steel guitarist B.J. Cole arrives onstage to accompany the band during ‘My Door Is Always Open’, and fan favourites such as ‘2 Atoms In A Molecule’ and ‘Jocasta’ from Noah And The Whale’s more jovial first release are slotted in amongst their more poignant songs to get everyone dancing.  Somewhat disappointingly, it is ‘Five Years Time’ that draws the loudest response from the crowd, despite this being far from their most rousing of songs. And the band also take the opportunity to debut a new track in the encore, establishing that their new sound won't be a huge departure from their most recent work.

There is not an ounce of pretention with this folk act, and this modesty is part of their overwhelming charm. The simplicity of their performance, delicately meshed with poignantly intense lyrics, makes Noah And The Whale’s music nothing but sincerely heartrending. And for a band whose latest material is founded upon the tale of a loss of love, there is, ironically, a hell of a lot of it in the room tonight.

This review was originally posted on www.the-fly.co.uk

They think it's all over.... 2009 definitely is now

So.... the 24 days of Christmas Crackers didn't quite come to fruition. Turns out there are quite a lot of parties and gigs at Christmas time and I had too much music to listen to and not enough time to write about it. I'm sure you were all devastated.

Anyway, 2010 is here and the blog is back on form, and I have a feeling it's going to be a great year for music. 2009 wasn't bad but there were only a few stand out albums for me, and there should have been more. Here are the few that tickled me pink last year...

Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
The Leeds lads finally graduated to the big time and if this storming album didn't do it for them, then nothing would have. Moving on from their typically lad-driven sound, this record was heavily influenced by psychadelia but it was a change in direction that suited them perfectly. Their songs proved them band have more substance than their previous two releases gave them credit for. Kasabian's new found success has spurred them on so much that they aim to have their next album out at the end of this year; if they manage it, it will be most interesting to see if it ends up sounding too rushed, and what direction they take next (sources say it's already quite Nirvana-esque).

Noah and the Whale - First Days of Spring
Moving on from their pop-folk sound, NATW undeniably released one of the most emotionally heart-wrenching albums of last year, or perhaps even of the decade. It's not often that a guy puts his emotions on such blatant display, but lead singer Charlie Fink took the risk and it most certainly paid off. Anyone who can make it to the end of the album without a tear in their eye needs to check they actually have a heart.

The Maccabees - Wall of Arms
After receiving much acclaim for their debut release, the Maccabees managed to pull off the difficult second album with mature success. Much like Noah and the Whale, their follow up release showed a somewhat darker side to the band, with deeper lyrics and less ambrosial fluff. The gap in between their debut and second releases also gave the band more time to gel together on stage and made them ones to watch on the gig circuit.

The Temper Trap - Conditions
These New Zealanders made a definite impression with their debut single release, 'Sweet Disposition', which seemed to be forced onto us via the medium of film soundtracks, adverts, various tv shows and of course, radio play, towards the latter part of 2009. Luckily for us, it's a great song. Their ethereal indie sound captured the attentions of music listeners everywhere, and the band have already sold out three dates at Shepherd's Bush Empire in a few months' time based on their debut single alone. Not bad going. 2010 is the time for these boys to prove they are more than a one-hit wonder, and they certainly have the potential to do so.

Other releases worthy of a mention:
Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
Alex Turner proves these Sheffield lads are more than polo shirts and witty lyrics.

Muse - The Resistance
If someone had told us two years ago that Matt Bellamy and co. would cross Knights of Cydonia with Freddie Mercury, we'd have laughed. Somehow, it works.

Hockey - Mind Chaos
Indie rap never sounded so good. And they're from Portland! Who'd have thought it.

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
After years of unjustly flying under the radar, these French boys finally gained some commercial recognition with their catchy pop tinged with a touch of electro.

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