In the belly of the beast of love
Three songs deep into English folkies Noah and the Whales and I am seriously loving them. “Blue Skies” was the first cut I got -a piece of extended melancholia, “this is the last song I will ever write about you” he claims to a former lover but somehow I don’t believe it in this blue noted song belieing its title a la Irving Berlin. Next I went with most popular and bought the upbeat “5 Years Time” off last years Peaceful, I Lay Me Down. How upbeat? from its whistling intro to its handclaps and sunny strummy acoustics and Charlie Finks naturally plaintive voice sounds really happy as he imagines the possibility of the couple still being together five years on. “I will always be happy when I’m just kicking back with you…” she tells him and you can’t help but smile.
A year and the girl, back up singer and girl friend Laura Marling has left the band and left him and here is the last song I’ve bought, the heartwrenching “The First Days Of Spring” -a melodic and string laden dirge of loss, “my life is starting over again” Fink sings but its hard to believe him. “I am still here hoping that one day you’ll come back” before the melody surges forward. A very lovely and sad song.
That’s what love’ll do to you.
