Back in 2009, when Lungs was first released, I remember listening with little interest. This might sound strange to listen to something that you're not interested in, but hear me out. See, back in 2008, Florence Welch was a little known artist who I only really knew for a cover of Galaxy of the Lost and that she was previously in Lightspeed Champion (who originally created said song). So, on a random play, I gave her and backing band a listen out of curiosity.
What followed was one of my favourite debut albums. Sure, at a push; it's unashamed pop music, but with the big vocals, quiet moments of despair and louder moments of joy, it was a strange mix of folk meets rock meets 19th century play. I loved it and apparently, so did many others, as the album sold well, had a unusual number of hit singles and cemented the band as big enough for the mainstream, but alternative enough for the hardened music purists.
Fans will be happy to know that Ceremonials is, in short; bigger, grander and more bombastic than it's predecessor. This should have been a given considering it's routes, but it's worth noting.
It opens huge in the form of Only If for a Night, which has, what sounds like electronic drums, harmonious backing vocals in the form of a choir and strings. Ok, from description, minus the beat, it doesn't sound a whole lot different from everything on Lungs, but structure wise, it's a different beast altogether.
It keeps up grandeur with singles Shake It Out; which feature some of Florence's best vocals (and for a band where the lead singer in one the best in the world, it's something special). By far, my personal stand out track What the Water Gave Me has a slow build up, momentum gets critical and, after a quick blemish of fury, the last minute and a half is simply stunning. One of 2011's best songs by far.
It's this momentum that makes the record such an interesting listen. It loses it's flow however with Breaking Down, which sounds a tad too fillerfied and unfortunately, incomplete. Seven Devils, which opens with more than a few similarities to Between Two Lungs' opening pipe, is the most serious song on the record but goes on for a too long and doesn't really go anywhere.
Thankfully, both songs have follow-up's which steer the album back on track. For Breaking Down; it's Lover to Lover. By far the most radio-friendly song on the album with a simple but perfect chorus and a huge, encompassing ending and simple piano chord progression which works well.
For Seven Devils, you get Heartlines, which returns the band to it's rockier routes and has a few similarities to Kiss With a Fist meets Dog Days Are Over; minus it's longer, has a steady, addictive drumbeat and more harmonious vocals for the chorus. It's worth noting that after this, you get Spectrum which, is as close as Ceremonials gets to showcasing an RnB song. Again, the song has a wonderful beat and the harp returns for a more prominent role, which all comes together wonderfully.
The album ends on Leave My Body which, despite being slow in the same vein as Breaking Down, is simple, epic and the perfect closing track for the album. It leads again with the harp, has handclaps and an acoustic guitar bridge before the final chorus which is superb.
It's strange as this month's congested release schedule has spawned a few decent albums, but many albums falter under the weight of their own hype. Despite my expectations, Ceremonials is a wonderful follow-up to a wonderful debut.
Yes; it does sound a tad too familiar and it goes on a tad too long (it clocks in at under an hour and that's if you got the standard version), but, it's still holds an aura of intrigue and uniqueness which is a breath of fresh air in this industry.
It's an album that you'll play from start to finish many times, simply because, there so many wonderful moments to take in it's dark, ghostly beauty. It treads precariously close to greatness, but falters before taking the final steps needed.
But maybe that's what the future holds?
8/10
H
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