Favourite folk-popsters bare their soul
It’s hard to know where Noah and The Whale fit into the grand scheme of the music industry. Their wistful lyrics are half-hidden by upbeat, sweet melodies, and as a group they lie somewhere between the indie and folk cliques. ‘Shape of My Heart’ is a bittersweet bit of folk-poetry which is far more agreeable (although far less likely to get airplay) than the over-hyped ‘Five Years Time’. Behind the flowers and rainbows lies a fragile bleeding heart, although the way the music builds gradually, going from acoustic to electric (as electric as it gets, anyway), you’d be forgiven for ignoring the lyrics and humming the infectious chorus.
It’s an accomplished, soulful pop song, and yet somehow lacks the bite of an instant classic single. It’s a nice example of what the band does, and likely to appeal to the less pop-oriented fans.