Florence And The Machine - Lungs

Lungs was a 2008 release that in my little corner of the world I had not come into any contact with until very recently. I was surprised (but then not really) to find that this album has spurned seven singles of which multiple songs have blanketed American and British television and even a few movies. The group released a song not included in this album for the third Twilight movie (hey I just know this cause I read it on wikipedia) and judging by some of the television shows also fancying their work I can see the niche audience that the album's record company, Island Records, is marketing too. I am not in this audience, but here I am writing a little on this album because within this vocal-centric pop music, I find occasions of great writing and musical talent. It's not there everywhere, and there are certainly some "misses" within for me, but this is also because of one of the album's strengths, its variety. The songs span all sorts of genres, sometimes it clicks really well, sometimes it doesn't, but it keeps things lively and fresh to see lead singer Florence Welch tackle the different vocal fields. What makes it work so well is that she doesn't just dip her toe in, she goes all out, throwing herself at all the various vocal angles she could find. You get the sense that she is truly having fun singing these heartbroken (at times angry) songs. The music is a mix of instruments fashioned to meet the needs of each song, heavy on percussion, but also harp and piano playing a major role. The production is, as expected for a big market record company, extremely professional without any discernible detractions to the music. The following quote from the group's website describing the lyrics, "The songs are full of Gothic imagery, of fairytale flights of fantasy, and although much has been read into her lyrics, Florence says it’s usually simple. “Everything is about boys!” she laughs. “The whole album is about love – and pain."


Florence And The Machine - "Dog Days Are Over"

The opening track on the album was actually the second "single" release from the album. Infectiously catchy chorus with a bouncy beat. The percussion was what drew me to this song (I believe the first I had heard from Florence And The Machine), I like the way it builds up and uses a number of percussive instruments to essentially keep the same beat, just at different intervals through the song. Of course the hand claps were a great choice, as was the pause used just after three minutes in (the pseudo ending) prior to a return of the chorus with almost chanting vocals.


Florence And The Machine - "Between Two Lungs"

Not to be confused with Between Two Ferns, "Between Two Lungs" somehow stands out from the other songs on this album because of the vocal ground covered by Welch. Its here more than anywhere else that you hear get the feeling that she was giving all of herself to the music. Welch notes on their website that this song was where she had found her voice, “I’d found my voice, and I just felt euphoric,” she recalls. “It’s been a real process of me learning that the way I wanted to do it was actually the right way. This whole album has been about having faith in myself.” The song has an odd start/stop beginning. After the vocals move towards expansion the simple piano and percussion fills in nicely. The subtle backing vocal tracks are also tastefully placed. The chorus is full and strong and the long drawn out sung words towards the end of the song are real emotional triggers. A four minute song that seems shorter, perhaps because it avoids simple structure and doesn't uselessly repeat parts, succinct yet creative.

The band's website florenceandthemachine.net is very well done I have to say, not too overwhelming, provides a decent amount of information, and has assorted media. This album is available on the site, but it just links it to a number of outlets (HMV, Amazon, etc.). There are two CD releases, a "standard" and a "deluxe" release which includes a second CD that features a few more songs and a couple demo versions songs ("Dog Days Are Over" is one of these songs, with a little different take on the percussion). There's an element of masturbatory love of affluence and "how wonderful life is (when you get to trounce around L.A. and all sorts of destinations which most people will never experience or better put can afford to experience)" from this film short linked from the band's website, it sort of rubs me the wrong way honestly and I have a creeping suspicion that I would do better to simply enjoy the album release without prying too deep into the artist and/or record label background.