Strange and Beautiful

by John D. LuerssenUsing the nom de rock Aqualung, singer/songwriter Matt Hales merges material from his two U.K. discs on Strange and Beautiful, his appealing U.S. debut. Vocally reminiscent of Rufus Wainwright and Radiohead's Thom Yorke, Hales' musical approach will likely win converts from fans of the aforementioned. The title track, which gained significant attention after it was used in a U.K Volkswagen commercial, is a compelling piano ballad with enough experimental touches to put it in the company of Coldplay and Keane, but there are equally good offerings like "Brighter Than Sunshine" and "Left Behind." With the former, Hales finds love by surprise ("I didn't believe in destiny") with a Beatles' ballad pace, but it's not all optimism. Devotion turns to devastation on "Falling Out of Love," a jazzy number with a heartfelt delivery. On rare occasion, the material feels sluggish (as with "Tongue-Tied") but by and large, Aqualung's U.S. entry is a breath of fresh air.