By Amber Schadewald

THE ALBUM LEAF

A Chorus of Storytellers

(Sub Pop)

 
Be lured into a deep daze with the frosty, sublime sounds of The Album Leaf’s new release, A Chorus of Storytellers. The San Diego band -- which will be performing Fri/12 at Great American Music Hall -- is ambient to its core. Only four of the 11 well-crafted tracks incorporate vocals. (Ironic, considering its the album's title.)

The rest are purely poetic and offer obvious insight into their Icelandic influences and production by Birgir Jon Birgisson, an engineer who has worked with Sigur Ros. A Chorus of Storytellers was recorded as a whole band, contrary to the previous four albums, on which primary songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jimmy LaValle played nearly everything himself.

THE ALBUM LEAF

w/ Magik*Magik Orchestra and Sea Wolf

Fri/12, 8pm, $15

Great American Music Hall

859 O'Farrell, SF

www.gamh.com