Can you believe that Noah and the Whale’s first hit single ‘Five Years Time’ was released six whole years ago? We know, it’s making us feel old too. Putting our feelings of old age aside, Noah and the Whale are back with their fourth studio album, Heart of Nowhere, and it’s a good one.
The band has had a few successful, slightly irritatingly catchy songs including ‘L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N’ and ‘Give a Little Love’, but we challenge you to name any more of their tunes. This album certainly feels a little more grown up to the Noah and the Whale we’re used to – front man Charlie Fink is the ripe old age of twenty-six after all.
‘There Will Come a Time’ will be the first single to be taken from the album and will no doubt be floating around your head and the charts for weeks to come. It comes with the same unusual but pleasing vocals from Fink, but the band feels that little bit more pulled together and mature. You might have already heard the tune as Radio 1’s Greg James made it his single of the week but, unfortunately, it may be the only really memorable song on the album much like its chart topping single predecessors from the band.
With other songs on the album ‘Silver and Gold’ and ‘Still After All These Years’ offering some delightful, soothing folky-pop, it’s the kind of album that would be suited perfectly to a long drive in the sun, or having on in the background while you lounge in the garden having a barbeque.
The last two songs ‘Now is Exactly the Time’ and ‘Not Too Late’ bring the album to a close flawlessly – you’ll almost feel like it’s gone past in a daze as you nod along to the poppy orchestral feel to this album. The lyrics can be a little bizarre at times, especially in some of the more romantic themed tunes but if you switch off to that and enjoy the sound, you can forgive the oddities. Those odd lyrics are why many people fell in love with the band afterall, as if we digress back to 2007, we were all singing along to, ‘well in five years time we could be walking round a zoo, with the sun shining down over me and you and there’ll be love in the bodies of the elephants too…’
The good thing about Heart of Nowhere is that it doesn’t sound too much like their back catalogue that it’s boring, and at the same time isn’t such a massive leap into the unknown that it’s unfamiliar. It’s a perfect blend of originality and experience in the industry. Fans will undoubtedly love the album as they’ve grown with the band. Heart of Nowhere offers fans something new and exciting, remaining close to the roots but providing a more experienced musical experience.
Heart of Nowhere from Noah and the Whale will be available on the 6 May.
[rating=3]
