Media Credit: Florenceandthemachine.net
By Vita Duva –
It is unfeasible to forget the very first moment that I was exposed to all that is the intensifying indie pop ladylove and her fellowship
of players called, Florence + The Machine – a live performance of, ‘Dog Days Are Over’ at T4 on the beach, a one-day British music festival held in Weston-Super-Mare, England had somehow found its way onto my American television screen on July 9, 2009. Front woman Florence Welch rocked the performance as she swept around the summer stage in an all-black fringe bodysuit, unfettered ginger hair and designer pumps that were just as tremendous as her vocals. Not only is Florence a machine, but a soul sovereign.
I’ve been a loyal and fervent fan ever since.
That same year, Florence + the Machine unleashed their debut studio album, “Lungs,” later becoming one of the best selling albums in the UK of 2009 and 2010. Airwaves overflowed the globe with tracks such as, ‘You’ve Got the Love,’ ‘Cosmic Heart,’ and ‘Kiss with a Fist.’
Now, two years later, comes forth their second studio album, “Ceremonials,” released under Island Records just this past month. It is already stealing the hearts of music fans worldwide.
Brilliantly placed, check out the first track on the album, ‘Only If for a Night,’ in order to fall under Florence + the Machine’s everlasting, sweet spell.
By now, Florence + the Machine have already spotted a glimpse of the success to come with this 12-track record, already making noise with single hits like ‘What the Water Gave Me,’ ‘Shake It Out,’ and more recently with, ‘No Light, No Light’ – three tracks that are surely not to be overlooked.
And of course, there has already been talk that “Ceremonials” will make an even bigger bang on the music industry than Adele’s “21” did. Although this is quite a bold prediction, anything is possible considering this record was also co-written and produced by Paul Epworth, who is celebrated for his work with artists like Cee Lo Green, Bloc Party, and ironically, Adele herself!
In contrast, the complex clan does lose some of my fully garnered attention with drawn-out, melodramatic tracks such as, ‘Lover to Lover’ and ‘Never Let Me Go.’ Sprinkled throughout the LP, these songs rank as more second-rate in comparison to standout songs like ‘Seven Devils,’
‘Spectrum,’ and ‘Leave My Body.’
But, does “Ceremonials” leave you yearning for more Florence + the Machine? If so, check out the deluxe edition, filled with five-bonus tracks worth at least a run through. ‘Remain Nameless,’ ‘Strangeness and Charm,’ and ‘Bedroom Hymns’ are definitely a few of the highlights to note here.
Overall Rating: 8/10
Tracks on Repeat:
‘Seven Devils’
‘Only If for a Night’
‘Spectrum’
Tracks to Skip:
‘Breaking Down’
‘All This and Heaven Too’
