It's an interesting change, in this American-dominated 21st century to see an American travelling to Europe, and mimicking the artform of another country, rather than vice-versa. The last forty years of pop music have been dominated by the "American" sound, even the British rock explosions had their roots in American sounds and culture. So, it's amusing in a way to see Jimmy LaValle, from post-rock group Tristeza travelling to Iceland and replicating the distinctly un-American sounds coming from that place.

I've always thought that Tristeza were a bit flat, as far as post-rock went, but LaValle has changed his approach with his new project, "The Album Leaf". A lot of the manic energy has been taken away, and replaced with an almost ambient quality, very similar to Icelandic groups like Sigur Rós. The comparison isn't entirely random either, since Jon Thor Birgisson from that group, has a guest vocal spot on this album.

The album starts in fine style, with Window, a lead-in track which conjures images of a frosty, misty window early in the morning, with the newly risen sun shining weakly through it. The first proper song on the album, Thule, is simply stunning. It's amazing to see what can be achieved with a drum machine, some ambient background noise, and a very simple melody. Another Day (Revised), is another sterling piece of chilly, icy music, anchored by some skittering percussion from a drum machine.

Birgisson's guest appearance on Over The Pond is as abstract as you might expect. Over a simple piano line, clear but indistinct vocals float in, it simply can't be told whether Birgisson is crooning in Icelandic, or whether the lyrics here are another of his Hopelandic creations. It's a beautiful song, but it's not the best on the album, since it seems more like music made by Sigur Rós, rather than music inspired by Sigur Rós. On Your Way also features a cameo by Pall Jenkins of Black Heart Procession, and this song sounds the most conventional of all the songs here, even featuring a relatively standard verse structure.

"In A Safe Place" is an intriguing listen, because it doesn't attempt to copy the whole Icelandic music craze, but instead builds upon the elegant, icy tones of it. Jimmy LaValle has stripped out some of the more cumbersome elements of the genre, like the soaring crescendos, and delivers an album that is quiet enough to be ambient, but also in possession of enough melody to stand up to close listening.