Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time

If the chirpy bells and whistles opening the latest single from songwriter Charlie Fink are not already appearing on a mobile phone ad with some ephemeral, life-affirming message, then perhaps the world isn’t such a bad place.

I doubt it though, because this kind of upbeat music projects a sweetness and innocence that belies the wry content of its lyrics, and is irresistible to grasping advertising types. 5 Years Time, featuring lovely backing vocals from Laura Marling, is sweet and funny, though its shimmering strings and main vocal are remarkably similar to Fink’s fellow folk revivalist Johnny Flynn.