Album Leaf

It's not that often that a band are able to successfully change their sound 12 years into a career. But that's exactly what Jimmy LaValle has done on the fifth album from his long running sometimes side-project the Album Leaf. Ditching the electronic blips and bleeps that typified previous releases, LaValle has embraced the lush, live orchestration of frequent tour-mates and collaborators Sigur Rós, creating a pop version of Icelandic art-rock. Hardcore fans might feel betrayed by the change in direction, as A Chorus of Storytellers feels far more like a collective effort than Album Leaf records of the past. But the Rhodes piano lines that were at the heart of the band's music remain, augmented by strings and live drums. The instrumentals that buffer the tracks with vocals benefit the most from the new sound, creating a sublime recording that hooks you in and never lets go.