Charlie Fink is an artist. I don’t mean the pretentious “musical artist” kind of title – I mean a multi-faceted, genuinely innovative and actually quite genius-like individual in a range of different artistic mediums. Noah And The Whale reflects his brilliance perfectly. The stark stylistic differences which began in the transition between Peaceful The World Lays Me Down and The First Days of Spring are apparent again in this latest stage of the band’s transition, and it works fantastically. Each album seems to invite a new array of listeners in to appreciate this unique and talented band and yet sustains their longterm fanbase completely.
Last Night On Earth (Mercury, 2011) is a pop record. Not in the vein of Katy Perry, of course, but in the better age of pop; comparisons with Depeche Mode would not be unfounded, yet there’s a reggae, world-infused feel to many of the tracks. Though it’s pop, it’s no more mainstream than anything they’ve done previously. The first single taken from this record, the catchy L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N, is the most mainstream offering, but where its musical hooks may appeal to the masses, its lyrical story shows depth and originality that original NATW fans have come to expect from the ensemble. Definite highlights include album opener Life Is Life and half-way mark Just Me Before We Met. Noah And The Whale have produced another phenomenal album that deserves all the acclaim I have no doubt it’ll be receiving. 10/10
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