Peaceful / The World Lays Me Down

Noah and the Whale were one of the leading protagonists of the small but perfectly formed indie-folk scene of the early days of the 21st Century. Formed in Twickenham, the five-piece, led by vocalist and guitarist Charlie Fink, originally boasted Laura Marling in their line-up, before she left to begin her successful solo career. Released in August 2008, 'Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down' was like a breath of fresh air with its optimistic-yet-realistic worldview and, as The Guardian was to note, its 'twinkling acoustic songs, bursting with brass, keyboards and fiddle' were 'economic and brimming with sure-footed confidence.' Its 11 songs include the group's debut single and signature track, '5 Years Time', which was to become their first UK Top 10 hit.