Album Review : Noah and the Whale – The First Days of Spring
- Written by Luke Rodgers
Noah and the Whale's second studio album sees the band return with a more mature sound and a concept album an. Inspired by the breakup of Charlie Fink and Laura Marling, this is only half of the picture as there is also a DVD for the music to accompany. The album is more a soundtrack to heartbreak but probably best not to listen to if such pain is still fresh in the memory.
The pounding drums and cutting violin hardly signify the first days of spring on the opening, and title track, but they work together to create an atmosphere of melancholy. They build slowly as Charlie wistfully narrates and sets the scene. Two thirds of the way through, the orchestra takes over as the track soars. The freedom of the heart wrenching violinists brings the song to a close as memories of the good times float around.
Reality sets in as the drink takes effect, bringing the mood down to a more sombre affair. The heartache takes over and the tales of loneliness and despair set in. The hopeless romantic side of Charlie Fink comes to the surface as Noah and the Whale edge closely towards Richard Hawley territory. The songs, while depressed, are full of mournful beauty and lines like “I didn’t marry the girl I love, saw my world cave in felt like giving up” - which could bring a tear to the hardest of hearts.
The introduction of what sounds like a brass colliery band brings a sense of false hope. This continues into ‘Love of an Orchestra’ as music brings cheer to Charlie’s heart distracting the mind from real life with some tuneful escapism.
The false hope sees Charlie take his first steps in 'Stranger', the hollow experience bringing the walls crashing down but not with a devastation more a realisation of the situation. The whole description of the moving on is told with such elegance and life that whole album comes alive around you. The distant gaze that closes the track brings a real sense of joy, as you realise that things will be fine.
‘Blue Skies’ (the second single) follows with a more upbeat rhythm and a sense of closure. The heartache is plain to see but it’s been dealt with and it’s time to move on.
The album comes to a close with ‘My Door Is Always Open’ and ends on a high. Much like the opening track, it slowly builds to beautiful heights. There is so much going on at the end it’s hard to take it all in, but as you do you find yourself in the presence of angels.
The emotion is genuine and the pain is all the more real through the beautiful arrangements and the sorrow that is evident in Charlie Fink’s voice. The album doesn’t tire after multiple consecutive plays, only offering more hidden depths. It’s hard to actually pick fault with The First Days of Spring.