This was the first Noah and the Whale album that I listened to and it was truly a revelation about a band, which you really only know about from their oft-repeated song 5 Years Time. Released in 2011, it is a bold-sounding pop record with catchy lyrics and impressive melodic hooks. However, once I got around to listening to their back catalogue (which in the end I discovered was only two other albums), I got a fuller appreciation of their journey. Their first album was more straightforward noughties folk-pop, which was not an especially brilliant album. Following this was The First Days of Spring, which was infused with classical and orchestral grandeur and a slower, more reflective tone. What really stood out for me, though, was how different this all sounded to Last Night On Earth. They have certainly been on a journey and as band members have left such as Laura Marling on backing female vocals and Doug Fink on drums, their sound has been constantly reinvented and revitalised. Once you listen to the album, you can hear their progression. The songs mingle the pop catchiness of their debut with the big sound of their second and this is the album where they matured into a legitimate songwriting tour de force.

Watching the performing a live session on a Channel 4 music show illuminated the album even more so for me. It proved that the grand sound could be recreated live, with the strings and other instruments offering a rich and satisfying folk sound. They also discussed the process of producing the album, mentioning for example, that in writing the songs, they wanted to get to the heart of its message and melody quickly. This makes the album much more accessible than its predecessor, which has longer tracks and is more about moodsetting and crescendo than individual pop song.

The songs themselves have character and the vocals are always charismatically delivered by Charlie Fink. The first track is an up-tempo pop piece that captivates the listener with its big sound and engaging message about a new life. In a way, the revitalisation of the band is epitomised in this song. Tonight's The Kind Of Night is often played first in their live shows, though this is in my opinion one of the least original songs on the album. This is made up though in the next song, the first single from the album, L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. It is a resounding pop song that will stay in your mind for some time. It is also a popular song, coming in sales behind only 5 Years Time, their otherwise most successful song. Other highlights on the rest album are Give It All Back, an anecdotal piece about looking back on forming and playing as a band. The musical interlude Paradise Stars is hauntingly simple and shows one thing that I adore about this album. It all knits perfectly together, since Paradise Stars was a phrase lyrically woven into the first track of the album. Waiting for My Chance To Come is another song that resonates with thick strings and is an optimistic and upbeat track that has the potential to get you through tough times as it did with me. Finally, the album slows down with its final tracks The Line and Old Joy. These provide stark relief to the beautifully bold rest of the album. They are beautiful and particularly the latter, have a tearful quality that hook you emotionally. This is one of my favourite albums of all time. Musical beauty is a tough thing to capture.