Florence + the Machine’s highly anticipated sophomore album, “Ceremonials,” avoids falling into the sophomore slump with its beautifully dark, ethereal sound.
With the release of her debut album, “Lungs,” in 2009, Florence Welch and company have been making their rounds in Europe and the United States, taking to the stage in tours, award shows and television programs.
Shooting into musical success, Flo and Co. started the process of creating album number two and outwitting the sophomore slump, which so often plagues new talent. And finally in 2011 — two years after the success of their debut LP — Florence + the Machine have released another glorious album.
The album as a whole is slightly more experimental than “Lungs” but maintains the Flo-sound fans and critics have grown to love. The album carries a heavier and darker sound instrumentally and lyrically, and it shows the evolution of Flo and Co.’s music from indie to soul.
Florence + the Machine kick off their album with the hypnotically strong “Only If for a Night.” The mystical, otherworldly sound Flo has perfected builds slowly as her ethereal voice joins the arrangement and then gets hit with a heavy dose of drums. The chorus of the song takes on a chant-like quality, which adds to the mysticism of the tune and paves the way for the second single of the album.
“Shake It Out” starts off slowly with a softer chamber organ instrumental interlude that’s accompanied by Flo’s whimsical vocals and then, suddenly, a full band powered by a pounding drum beat breaks the calmness. The track is an extremely catchy piece with its group background vocals and captivating lyrics. Flo and Co. highlight their remarkable talent as musicians and lyricists with this track because it encapsulates all the magic of Florence + the Machine and shows their willingness to explore new musical territory and make an alluringly original track.
The first single to be released from the album was “What the Water Gave Me,” which left fans and critics buzzing with its heavier sound, not often heard in “Lungs.” The song begins with a seductive guitar melody floating in-between Florence’s dulcet vocals. The song builds into a chamber chorus vocalization that breaks with a cacophony of instruments that blend right into the next verse. The song lyrics reveal Flo’s fascination with life and death and tell the story of Virginia Woolf’s suicide, adding a whole new dimension to Flo and Co.’s creative genius. Although the song has a lot going on at once, Flo’s voice stays the focus and never gets lost, which is a testament to her unique vocals. It’s a captivating song and can’t be enjoyed on one run through. Like most of her album, “What the Water Gave Me” must be savored over time.
“No Light, No Light” goes straight into a drum-infused, chamber music-like intro with Flo’s voice flowing clearly over the melody and then breaking into a fast-paced, catchy beat. The song is catchy both in its melody and lyrics because the pounding of the drums is captivating and the lyrics of the chorus flow together flawlessly in their repetition throughout the track. “No Light, No Light” sounds very similar to Flo and Co.’s work on “Lungs” and brings back a sense of nostalgia for her more indie, and less heavy, sound. The song is neither more indie nor more soul; the song is a perfect blend of what is Florence + the Machine.
“Ceremonials” is not an album that will instill automatic love in one listen; it’s more complex than that. It’s a 16-track album that must be listened to more than once in order to get the full Florence + the Machine experience. But it’s impossible to only listen to it once because the album is beautifully crafted and executed. Although it’s a little more experimental than what fans are used to, it still provides fans with all that they love about Flo’s lyrical genius and ethereal voice. Take a listen. You won’t be disappointed.
