Album Of The Week - 31st August: Noah & The Whale - First Days Of Spring

Noah & The Whale return with their second studio album released just over a year after their debut 'Peaceful the World Lays Me Down'. The band is a four piece although there are a number of additional musicians and vocalists who have contributed to their music over the years. The name Noah & The Whale is taken from one of the band's favourite films 'The Squid and the Whale' directed by Noah Baumbach.

I was a big fan of the first album especially the incredibly catchy single "5 Years Time". I was however disappointed to hear that the new album would be lacking the female backing vocals provided by Laura Marling and was hoping this wouldn't have a negative effect. 'The First Days Of Spring' is actually a concept album which contains a running narrative throughout describing the breakup of a relationship. The breakup in question is that of lead singer Charlie Fink and Laura Marling explaining her absence from this project. A movie has also been created with the same title which runs for the length of the album and come with the deluxe edition.

The album starts as it means to continue with the slow paced and cinematic title track. There is a definate maturity in the sound and in the lyrics compared to their debut album. The whole album does have a real cinematic feel to it with the instrumentation creating lush soundscapes for the folksy melancholy of Finks vocals. There is also room for a more experimental sound with two instrumental tracks featuring the use of an orchestra tuning up and pealing church bells. There is a departure from the often twee and quirky tunes that defined their debut album only once regressing to their old ways on "Love Of An Orchestra" as if to prove that they are still the same people. It is this growing up in the sound that has added a greater sense of drama and a more real feeling of emotion to the music and to the vocals. If their first album was a hyperactive child skipping through a field then that child has definately grown up and been welcomed into the real world now.

I have not yet had a chance to see the film and would love to see the music over the film as it clearly has that cinematic quality to it. It does however work in it's own right as a beautifully slow moving, sweeping collection of songs that really convey the emotions of experiences I'm sure we can all relate to. Give it a listen and hear for yourself http://open.spotify.com/album/17CbZe05VyzC2QsVx6PT06