No doubts this week...
Noah & The Whale 'Blue Skies'
"This is a song for anyone with a broken heart...this is a song for anyone who can't get out of bed" sings Charlie Fink. Not for me then...my heart is intact and I am usually out of bed first thing in the morning to go for a swim or a run, or both. But still, this is a gorgeous single. The turning point of the 'First Days Of Spring' album, the song where Fink tries to let go of his lost love and look to the future and the "blue skies (that are) calling". It sounds as lush as it gets. Strings, a choir and a bit of brass at the end. Just a great song. Although, I will say that this radio-edit has been 'jazzed' up a bit, which is un-necessary because the version on the album is, as near as damn-it, perfect.
Out now on download and 7".
Showing posts with label noah and the whale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label noah and the whale. Show all posts
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Noah and The Whale 'The First Days of Spring'
If you had told me, at the start of this year, that by the end of summer we will have a shimmering, gloriously melancholic, orchestral masterpiece released, I would have struggled to have guessed that it would have come from Noah and The Whale. Nice though their upbeat, chirpy debut album was, there was simply no sign that they were in any way likely to make a record like this.
'The First Days of Spring' is a concept record, documentating the last days and aftermath of singer Charlie Fink's relationship with his girlfriend (who by all accounts, was Laura Marling). Fink has written a fine set of lyrics that document despair, confusion, heartbreak, reflection and finally, hope. He sings these words with a calm assurance, sounding at times a little like Bill Callahan and indeed some of the songs remind me of mid-period Smog.
The words alone would make a fine poetry collection, but luckily for us music fans, Noah and The Whale, along with a choir, orchestra and string section have combined to make Fink's concept into a beautifully arranged, evocative and uplifting piece of music, perhaps the best released so far this year.
The record is split into three distinct sections. The opening four songs document the end of the relationship. The title track sets the scene, building into a Tindersticks-style orchestral epic whilst Fink ponders his life at a crossroads("I do believe everyone has one chance to fuck up their life"), 'Our Window', with the sound of rain hitting the window occasionally in the background, is slow and mournful, piano-led, the sound of a couple on the verge of a split, both looking the other way. Its the most heartbreaking and desolate track here, especially Fink's refrain "its been a while, since I've stared at the stars".
After another couple of tracks with the same feel, a change is needed and we certainly get one! A couple of lush instrumentals bookend 'Love Of An Orchestra' which is rich with strings and a choir, completely overblown and utterly joyful.
The third section of the album looks to the future. After the slightly subdued 'Stranger', Fink searches for optimism and happiness on the graceful 'Blue Skies' which he introduces as a song for "anyone with a broken heart". He sounds most like Callahan on this track, wounded and hurt in the verses but lifting himself for the "Blue skies are calling" in the chorus. The record ends with 'My Door Is Always Open', lyrically reaching closure and peace and musically resisting the urge for a big orchestral finish but finding something just as uplifting, although understated.
'The First Days of Spring' is an extremely accomplished piece of work. Sure, its sad and melancholy but it is never, ever depressing or miserable...either tugging at your heartstrings or being uplifting and joyful. I haven't been able to stop playing this since I received it. Its a very bold attempt to produce something fully formed, rich and adventurous, without sounding overblown or ridiculous. They completely succeed. Noah and the Whale must stand a very good chance of winning the Mercury Prize for 2010. This is the finest British album I have heard in a long, long time.
[this was reviewed from a promo. 'First Days of Spring' is out on August 31st on cd and cd/dvd (more on the dvd soon) via Mercury]
'The First Days of Spring' is a concept record, documentating the last days and aftermath of singer Charlie Fink's relationship with his girlfriend (who by all accounts, was Laura Marling). Fink has written a fine set of lyrics that document despair, confusion, heartbreak, reflection and finally, hope. He sings these words with a calm assurance, sounding at times a little like Bill Callahan and indeed some of the songs remind me of mid-period Smog.
The words alone would make a fine poetry collection, but luckily for us music fans, Noah and The Whale, along with a choir, orchestra and string section have combined to make Fink's concept into a beautifully arranged, evocative and uplifting piece of music, perhaps the best released so far this year.
The record is split into three distinct sections. The opening four songs document the end of the relationship. The title track sets the scene, building into a Tindersticks-style orchestral epic whilst Fink ponders his life at a crossroads("I do believe everyone has one chance to fuck up their life"), 'Our Window', with the sound of rain hitting the window occasionally in the background, is slow and mournful, piano-led, the sound of a couple on the verge of a split, both looking the other way. Its the most heartbreaking and desolate track here, especially Fink's refrain "its been a while, since I've stared at the stars".
After another couple of tracks with the same feel, a change is needed and we certainly get one! A couple of lush instrumentals bookend 'Love Of An Orchestra' which is rich with strings and a choir, completely overblown and utterly joyful.
The third section of the album looks to the future. After the slightly subdued 'Stranger', Fink searches for optimism and happiness on the graceful 'Blue Skies' which he introduces as a song for "anyone with a broken heart". He sounds most like Callahan on this track, wounded and hurt in the verses but lifting himself for the "Blue skies are calling" in the chorus. The record ends with 'My Door Is Always Open', lyrically reaching closure and peace and musically resisting the urge for a big orchestral finish but finding something just as uplifting, although understated.
'The First Days of Spring' is an extremely accomplished piece of work. Sure, its sad and melancholy but it is never, ever depressing or miserable...either tugging at your heartstrings or being uplifting and joyful. I haven't been able to stop playing this since I received it. Its a very bold attempt to produce something fully formed, rich and adventurous, without sounding overblown or ridiculous. They completely succeed. Noah and the Whale must stand a very good chance of winning the Mercury Prize for 2010. This is the finest British album I have heard in a long, long time.
[this was reviewed from a promo. 'First Days of Spring' is out on August 31st on cd and cd/dvd (more on the dvd soon) via Mercury]
Saturday, 1 August 2009
more on the Zak Sally cd..
The Zak Sally cd has arrived from the States and I have to say it is one of the nicest handmade cds I have yet seen. Well worth getting if you are a fan of Zak (or were a fan of Low-era Zak), the cds are all signed and numbered.
More on the actual music soon, along with the new Twilight Sad cd and the Noah and The Whale album (which I have to say is stunning).
More on the actual music soon, along with the new Twilight Sad cd and the Noah and The Whale album (which I have to say is stunning).
Monday, 20 July 2009
Noah and The Whale 'The First Days of Spring'
This band passed me by when they released their debut LP last year. It all seemed a bit light and overly jolly. Things appear to have changed though...
The first track from their second album 'The First Days of Spring' is available to download for free from the Noah and The Whale website and it is stunningly good. Tense, orchestral and lovelorn, it is the sound of a band making a huge jump in quality and stature. Looking forward to hearing the album.
The first track from their second album 'The First Days of Spring' is available to download for free from the Noah and The Whale website and it is stunningly good. Tense, orchestral and lovelorn, it is the sound of a band making a huge jump in quality and stature. Looking forward to hearing the album.
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