Florence and The Machine return from their 2009 debut album Lungs with an even more dynamic harp-inlaced assault in Ceremonial. Welch returns with her echoing wails as the rest of the Machine does what they do best--create a spacey yet bombastic atmosphere that fits the voice.With reverberating piano and silence-mutilating drum breaks galore, Florence’s vocals soar to the limit. Ceremonials is more lively and anthemic than Lungs, from the gospel-step clap in Spectrum to the slow-but-loud first track Only For A Night. The group seems to have abandoned the bluesy style that surface on a few tracks in Lungs in favor of the sound that won them radio plays in Dog Days Are Over; however, Florence also experiments with the increasingly popular electronic sound. Remain Nameless brings in a grooving 808 drum to work alongside a dark choir backing the iconic howl, and Welch's use of a clearly-synth bass in Strangeness and Charm is extremely refreshing. The electro tinged version of another track on the album What The Water Gave Me is a perfect ending, displaying further a flexibility in Florence’s style and perhaps a foreshadowing of future stylistic changes. Overall, the album truly embodies a sound that Florence found in her Machine the first time around and gives us more of what we wanted; a rock/orchestral/ soul instrumental collaboration working with one of the best voices in the music business today.
No comments:
Post a Comment