If you are a fan of Florence and the Machine and their dramatic, orchestral style, you won’t be disappointed by this offering.
Florence and the Machine has delivered Ceremonials, on Halloween no less, which could be seen as an early insight into the albums approach.
Florence sounds haunting and conflicted, with many references to her soul and the devil. “It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back’ and “Every demon wants his pound of flesh” from the second single Shake It Out, gives you the sense of a heavy burden. Not to mention, one of my favourites on the album, Seven Devils, which rumbles with a heavy drumbeat and a ghostly choir, you again get the sense of a heavy burden or the sense of being wronged. “Seven devils all around you/ Seven devils in my house”
While the album is full of conflict, resentment and an internal struggle, this is by no means a dark or dreary record. Shake It Out, Heartlines, and Spectrum draw comparisons to Dog Days Are Over – the uplifting favourite from their 2009 debut Lungs.
Gentle yet rousing, with huge hooks, and stirring lyrics, these are the songs to listen to on a bad day!
I am bias when it comes to Florence and the Machine, having had the pleasure of meeting Florence Welch and of seeing them live – both fantastic experiences! However, if I was to pick holes, it is an album of huge anthems – as I’m sure was the intention. It can be quite exhausting to listen to, and a little impersonal. In saying that, for Florence fans… a really fantastic album!
Have you listened to Ceremonials?
What’s your favourite Florence and the Machine song?
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