Until now, Noah and The Whale have been a band looking for a direction. They started off as nu-folk mooncalves, overshadowed by chums Mumford and Sons and Laura Marling. With 2011’s Last Night On Earth they veered, unexpectedly, into Tom Petty-esque heartland rock (inspired, apparently, by a trip frontman Charlie Fink took across America as a 17-year-old).

While a fine record, nonetheless there was a sense that, yet again, Noah and The Whale were trying on someone else’s clothes. Well, fourth time out, there are signs that Fink, in particular, has started to figure out what kind of writer he really wants to be. An unabashed pop record, Heart Of Nowhere has some of the same influences as Last Night On Earth. Throughout the tone is mellow and purposeful, the songs upbeat: ‘All Through The Night’ has a guitar line reminiscent of Sisters Of Mercy’s ‘Dominion’; the title-track features strident strings and a chugging chorus. Released nearly a decade into their career, Heart Of Nowhere risks coming off as slight. But it is a well-constructed collection of very catchy songs. And that’s enough to be going on with.

Key Track: ‘All Through The Night’

You can listen to the new album which is out May 6 on their official website:

http://www.noahandthewhale.com/