For fans that were hoping for a return to the folk-sound of Noah and the Whale’s earlier albums, this fourth release may disappoint. Heart of Nowhere takes the band further down the pop/rock line, by no means the result of some chart driven commercialisation. Noah’s sound still holds a fresh and punchy vibe, which is once more pumped with some of the joy that was abundant in their classic track ‘5 Years Time’. This album though, is full of driving, yet perhaps less interesting, four by four drum beats and pop chord progressions, a far cry from their folk origins.

Charlie Fink’s distinctive voice rings out across the top, reminding us that we are still listening to Noah, not just any preppy rock band. Resonating wonderfully in all registers, he sings carefully crafted lyrics that are entirely honest and free from pretence. Rather than his meaning being lost in the deliberately obscure (supposed) poetry that is so often written by folk artists, Fink puts his heart on his sleeve. Even if it does occasionally come across as a little naïve – “somebody asked me ‘what you going to do with your life?’ / and I stared out into nothing, searching for the answer that’s right” – Fink’s vocals are earnest, and a refreshing change. On the album’s title track he is accompanied by the 80’s voice of Anna Calvi, who sings in a Patti Smith-esque style. This works to good effect, bringing out a new dimension in Fink's voice when they are in unison.

The almost ballad-like nature of many of the tracks, combined with the electric guitar solos in tracks like ‘All Through the Night’, marks a definite change in tone for Noah and the Whale. But despite this, strings are still very much present, and the opening of ‘Lifetime’, in which a jolting set of cello chords is interrupted by the ‘pfff’ of an electric kit snare, epitomizes this new fusion. The opening instrumental of the album is unique in that it harks back almost to the melancholic depths of ‘The First Days of Spring’ album. Even though the very beginning of this track could resemble the soundtrack to a TV commercial, it is quickly saved and infinitely enhanced by a single rising cello note.

Overall, Heart of Nowhere is an extremely well executed album that brings in a new Noah and the Whale sound. Whilst it strays away from their folk origins into a more standard sound, it nonetheless manages to stay full of surprises,