Noah and the Whale have announced they are to split. The London-based band came to prominence with the winsome folk-pop of 5 Years Time in 2008, the hit single from their debut album Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down. In latter years, however, they metamorphosed into a sleek drivetime rock outfit, garnering critical acclaim, and high chart placings.

The band issued a statement to their fans: “Noah and the Whale have decided to call it a day. We have had an incredible eight years together and are immensely grateful to everyone who has helped us along the way. There are too many people to mention in this short message but we would like to take this opportunity to give special thanks to all of our amazing fans, who have supported us so magnificently over the years and made everything possible.”

There are no details yet of what projects the five members of the band will be working on. However, all five have set up their own websites, so it seems likely they will be continuing to make music.