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NBHAP Rating: 4,3/5
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[one_half last=”yes”]FLORENCE + THE MACHINE
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
Release-Date: 01.06.2015
Label: Island Records
Tracklist:
01. Ship To Wreck
02. What Kind Of Men
03. How Big How Blue How Beautiful
04. Queen Of Peace
05. Various Storms & Saints
06. Delilah
07. Long & Lost
08. Caught
09. Third Eye
10. St Jude
11. Mother
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The big awakening
With the folk-orientated debut Lungs Florence Welch conquered hearts of the critics, with its follow-up Ceremonials almost the whole world. The time has come for a new chapter, entitled How Big How Blue How Beautiful. And this time the young lady certainly opened her eyes. While Lungs and Ceremonials both took us on a ride through different states of dreaming and fantasy worlds, this time planet earth marks the central stage. No need for fictional creatures or demons – struggling through all the sticks and stones of everyday life is enough drama. And you know what? Even here FLORENCE + THE MACHINE put a whole new epicness in the meaning of heartbreak and emotional pain. Your feet might be on the ground, but your mind is high; way up high.
How rough how rocky how reckless
Those who already got a taste of the album‘s previously released singles know the deal: the sound changed and that can be heard. More than that, it is fresh and light on one hand, but still harder than previous material on the other. The singer concentrates more on the lyrical content and the dynamics of her voice. The edgy and rocky sound fits perfectly with that. Ship To Wreck serves as the power-starter of the LP and introduces you immediately to the new era of FLORENCE + THE MACHINE. Heavy guitars, loud drums and trumpets. Trumpets everywhere! What Kind Of Men shows a truly upset and angry singer, new facets are shown, while some pieces like Various Storms and Saints, Caught or the harmonic St Jude remind a bit of the project’s roots. No one will get lost in it, despite the usual universe we are all hiding in when listening to good music.
California Dreamin’
FLORENCE herself told in an interview she wrote the title song for the record on the West Coast. The Californian lifestyle might got a bit of an impact on her mood. Despite her fighting with love, pain and something in between, there is a musical lightness and coolness on How Big How Blue How Beautiful we heard on LANA DEL REY’s Ultraviolence for the last time. Our favourite red-haired fairy is back and with her machine she sounds edgier and more honest than ever before. Orchestral hymns and catchy songs? For sure, but this time sober and clean. No sleep needed!
Our favourite red-haired fairy is back and with her machine she sounds edgier and more honest than ever before. Orchestral hymns and catchy songs? For sure, but this time sober and clean. No sleep needed!
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