With their boyish good-looks and London charisma to add, the members of Noah and the Whale, are probably anticipating a good day for their September 16th release of their new album "Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down." Not to judge a record by its cover (or title), or an artist(s) by his looks, but this was probably one of the coolest packaged CDs we received, in its simple brown paper case, semi-abstract/semi-lego-like cover art and neatly printed type/font slightly reminiscent of a refined version of comic sans.

But let's get to the meat of the matter, which is the music. Simply put, "Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down" is a "nice" collection of folk-pop songs. What I mean is that there are some songs that are stronger than others, and others that feel randomly out of character like "Second Lover." The crisp clear guitar picking, though simple in it's melodic character, makes it's motif-like appearance throughout the album and I enjoy it. It peeks it's head out to say howdy in "2 Atoms in a Molecule," subtly makes it's reappearance in "Death by Numbers" and serves as a beautiful, simple (though repetitious) accompaniment in "Mary" - one of my favorites of the albums which, along with other songs on the record, incorporate violin (trumpets, female vocals and such make their appearance on others).

I'm not sure how people will feel about listening to an entire album of frontman Charlie's voice which is reminiscent of Emmanuel and the Fear meets Jens Lekman, which is up some people's alley. Whatever your preference, you will be sure to find your joy in corners and places of their album, whether you dig upbeat, feel good songs with a twinkle-like timbre (I mean this in a good way), or more mellow tunes. And for self-proclaimed "Serious Amateurs" I definitely give them applause.

2 Atoms in a Molecule
Mary
Shape of My Heart

Btw, they have a well put together/designed site which in itself is pretty cool to check out.

Labels: indie