A chorus of sound turns vocal

First begun in 1998 as guitarist Jimmy LaValle’s solo music project, The Album Leaf has since blossomed into an internationally respected group with an extensive, almost cult-like fan base. Now with the release of their fifth album, “A Chorus of Storytellers,” the band explores new areas of vocal mobility, while maintaining the mellow, ambient instrumentals of their previous work.

Take the single, “Falling From the Sun,” for instance. Lyrics are almost immediately introduced – a rebellious move for a band whose work is largely instrumental. While the song maintains a drone-like tone, surprisingly strong beats are included in the chorus, adding contrast to The Album Leaf’s past repertoire of producing mainly meditative musical soundscapes.

Similarly, the song “We Are” is upbeat and toe-tappingly pleasant, pushing the line between the genre of indie rock and pop. For those who have trouble understanding the band’s mainly chord-based work, “We Are” offers a seamless transition. Percussion is used heavily to establish a steady rhythm, and the result is a song that masterfully upholds the integrity of the band’s signature flowing sounds, with an added mainstream component.

Though it is clear that “A Chorus of Storytellers” is a true work of art, falling asleep to the album’s ballad songs like “Within Dreams” or “Perro” is not a hard feat.