Those intrigued by Aqualung's recent release, Memory Man (which dropped March 13th), would do well to revisit Strange and Beautiful, the 2005 breakthrough for Matt Hales and company. While the album was American audiences' first proper introduction to Aqualung, the album culls material from the first two Aqualung records released on British label B-Unique. Knowing this, there is a sense that Strange & Beautiful accurately reflects Hales' strengths as a songwriter and performer.

Aqualung's sound is centered on a winning mixture of poignant piano figures, mellow grooves, a touch of electronica and the intensity present in Hales' expressive vocals. Fans of artists like Coldplay, Snow Patrol and Keane are likely to enjoy the serene and sublime stylings. Much like these geographic and musical cousins, Aqualung's music would be easy to pigeonhole as Brit-pop simply because it's made by Britons who can craft great hooks, but there are universal elements at work here: the shape of Hales' melodies and the gradual emotional release built into each crescendo have an appeal with the potential to reach out to audiences with wide musical tastes.

After two years, it's worth noting the tracks on Strange And Beautiful continue to hold up and contain a special quality. None of the material comes off as dated or fleeting and while those songs which garnered Aqualung the most notice ("Brighter Than Sunshine", "Strange and Beautiful (I'll Put A Spell On You") still justify their success, other tracks shine at least as brightly. The quiet desperation in Hales' voice and the simple emotional appeal he gives voice to make "Breaking My Heart" a highly affecting ballad and album highlight. Late in the record, "If I Fall" and "Easier to Lie" form a moving one-two punch, with the quiet beauty of the former easing into the gradually shimmering pop of the latter.

The consistency of Hales' approach and the contributions he receives from wife Kim Oliver and brother Ben, which further that approach, make Strange And Beautiful a terrific document that gets to the heart of the musical vision fueling Aqualung.