A Chorus of Storytellers
For his fifth studio album, James LaValle brought his touring band into the studio for the first time. (His previous albums were all performed solo.) The snowcaps and icy ambient tones are still present (“Perro,” “Blank Pages”) but a strong backbeat and stronger melodies with audible vocals (“There Is a Wind,” “Falling from the Sun,” “We Are,” “Almost There”) practically make this mood-altering group a pop ensemble for a few moments. Recorded just outside Seattle in February 2009 and mixed in Reykjavik, Iceland by Sigur Rós producer Birgir Jon Birgisson, *A Chorus of Storytellers* features a wide sonic expanse that excels at running in place. “Within Dreams” uses an austere setting with just nibbling rhythms to display the glorious keyboard chords that arrive in waves. “Stand Still” builds the intensity but never disturbs the dreamscape; its keyboards continue to find new pockets to fill. “Until the Last” continues the forward flow with cascading piano notes leading to the hopeful vibe of “We Are.” It’s all quite a meditative journey.
A Chorus of Storytellers was recorded by Ryan Hadlock in the frosty month of February 2009 at Bear Creek Studio just outside of Seattle. It was mixed in the decidedly warmer month of June in Reykjavik, Iceland by Birgir Jon Birgisson. Those paying attention will notice that this is nearly the same way their last album Into the Blue Again was recorded. There is, however, one fundamental difference between this and every other album The Album Leaf has ever recorded. For the first time in five albums, The Album Leaf recorded as a whole band. In the past, almost every instrument was performed by principal songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jimmy LaValle. This time the whole band was invited to participate and the result is their best record yet.
Post-rock veterans and Sigur Rós associates continue to create twinkling, mostly instrumental music with IDM textures.
The Album Leaf’s mutual love affair with Sigur Rós has been going on for almost a decade, but it took the new A Chorus Of Storytellers for Album Leaf mastermind James LaValle to do what’s been long overdue: Lay off the cut-and-paste collaborations and get a live band together to record his keyboard-based, mostly…
Five albums in, The Album Leaf’s Jimmy LaValle has taken the risky decision to utilize his touring band on this latest album, making for a much more collaborative effort.
The Album Leaf - A Chorus Of Storytellers review: You might as well just return to your Sigur Ros or Do Make Say Think albums.