If you ever come to the situation where the world is ending and you have to take a resolute leap off a cliff, the first track off Skyline, “Another Shore,” is the soundtrack for it. Tiersen’s seventh studio album sounds happier than 2010’s Dust Lane, but if you only know Tiersen’s work from Amelie, this is a world apart. No folksy melodies here: the only similarity is the building melody and super rich sound, built by tons of instruments such as vibraphones, guitars, synths, glockenspiels, mandolins, accordions, and violins. The tracks shimmer with electric guitar and five out of the nine tracks feature vocals (which includes barking and swearing on “The Gutter”). Often, dissonant collections of sounds (toy piano tinkling, rough yelling, synths) each start doing their own thing, then suddenly realise how they fit together – the result is coherent frantic energy, choreographed by strong, catchy melodies. These are beautiful, unpretentious songs, and their complexity isn’t paired with aloof experimentalism. Quieter tracks such as “Forgive Me” and “The Trial” are soft but still lively. The chorus on the latter is heartbreaking, rushing along like inevitable waves in an evening ocean. Oh gosh, I’m breaking out the similes. Just give this a listen, and a thousand beautiful things will come to mind. (ANTI-, www.anti.com) Adrienne Yeung