The Album Leaf - In a Safe Place

The Album Leaf
In A Safe Place
Sub Pop Records
Grade: A-

I find a nice test of mainly instrumental albums to be whether it can keep me awake during long drives. Ideally, one should find the music soothing and mellowing, but not sleep-inducing. The previous champion of this test was Explosions in the Sky. Yet, this latest from the Album Leaf held up quite finely in some tough conditions.

The Album Leaf is the solo project of multi-talent San Diego-based musician Jimmy LaValle. LaValle is probably best known for his like-minded offerings in Tristeza, as well as joints in the Locust, GoGoGo Airheart and the Black Heart Procession. Yet, the Album Leaf is LaValle's baby; left to be crafted by his deft hand. After gaining notoriety as the Album Leaf with 1999's An Orchestrated Rise To Fall (Linkwork) and 2003's EPs Lifetime or More (Arena Rock) and Seal Beach (Acuarela), LaValle used his contacts to head to Iceland to record In a Safe Place. This was done at the constant prodding of members of Icelandic superstars Sigur Ros and Mum, who LaValle had befriended during tours of the U.S. In addition to those groups help, Pall Jenkins from Black Heart Procession assisted LaValle craft his latest in Sundlaugin studio in Mosfellsbaer, Iceland. The end product is ten tracks of pure awesomeness.

While LaValle includes vocals at minimal points in time, for instance on the murking "On Your Way," In a Safe Place concentrates on presenting sweetly soothing soundscapes of bliss. LaValle says there is little doubt that the alien-like landscape of Iceland played a role in the feeling of the ten tracks. Whatever the reason, we are thankfully something clicked. The record opens slowly and quietly on "Window," before "Thule" comes in with drums, piano and electronics to take you away. After the aforementioned "On Your Way," LaValle creates a wide production on "Twentytwofourteen" by incorporating a swath of instruments including strings and glockenspiel. "The Outer Banks" prospers with electronic drums and thick orchestration while picking up a steady pace. On "Over the Pond," Jon from Sigur Ros and LaValle lay slight whispering vocals of seemingly nonsense over trodding music. With a piano-driven inspirational flair "Another Day (Revisited)" follows and LaValle trades in the grand instruments for quiet acoustic guitars on "Streamside." Before closing on "Moss Mountain Town," LaValle offers up substantial singing on "Eastern Glow" accompanied by a prominent violin and builds up to the ending. "Moss Mountain Town" covers several minutes of minimalist ambient music that serves well as an ending.

Based on the evidence from In a Safe Place, LaValle should spend more time with Sigur Ros in the Icelandic environment. Music like this should never be made in San Diego.