The Bite Magazine - Summer 2012 - Issue 5

bite albumreviews FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE - CEREMONIALS F lorence Welch’s debut album of 2009, Lungs accompanied by her five-piece rock band was incredible and her latest offering, Ceremonials, certainly looks as if it will achieve, or even exceed those dizzy heights. She seduces fans with the sheer power of her voice together with the harp plucks and tribal drum riffs performed by the band. The haunting sound of enchantment takes us through the whole album. Welch pushes us through fairy-tale landscapes and catapults us through life’s dramas with both anger and beauty. Her songs depict relationships as a struggle, in danger of tipping over into the realm of breakdown and disaster. The first thing you’ll notice when you fire up Ceremonials  is Welch’s voice. Any number of words could be used to describe it; angelic, amazing, lingering and powerful. It fits in with the whole mood of the album and her voice definitely makes it complete. ‘What the Water Gave Me’ is a magnificent piece of work, and ‘Seven Devils’ is a beautiful, darker record with gothic overtones. ‘All This and Heaven Too’ is also an amazing track and a really classic heartfelt song. It would have been near impossible to recreate the same magic of the first album but what Welch has done is create a new kind. I would urge anyone who is determined to say “It’s not as good as the first album” to reconsider and give it another listen.The album is very dramatic and mesmerising with each song creating a theatrical atmosphere. Ceremonials certainly haven’t lost that trademark Florence and the Machine wow-factor and I just really enjoy listening to it.There are a few tracks on here that I would call my favourites such as ‘What the Water Gave Me,’ ‘Seven Devils,’ ‘Spectrum,’ ‘No Light No Light’ and ‘Never Let Me Go.’ The album concludes with the powerful rock gospel sound of ‘Leave My Body.’ I’m gonna leave my body/Moving up to higher ground/ Lose my mind. http://florenceandthemachine.net/ ALBUM REVIEWS NATASHA YEXLEY GIVES US AN INSIGHT INTO FOUR NEW ALBUM RELEASES THAT WILL HELP GET YOU INTHE MOOD FOR SUMMER. THE MACCABEES - GIVENTOTHEWILD T heir long-awaited third album has been released following the 2009 success of Wall of Arms. From the very first listen we can hear it is beautifully structured and that their sound has most definitely matured. It’s no surprise that the near three-year gap between that release and new album, Given to the Wild, represents an even more significant development in the band’s sound. At times it’s hard to believe this was the same band that churned out the energetic pop of ‘Latchmere’ or ‘First Love,’ with most of the arrangements on Given to The Wild. I’ve been a fan of the Maccabees since their fast-paced raucous debut and was very excited after hearing ‘Pelican’ on the radio for the first time, and eager to hear what was in store on their latest album. At first I was surprised by how downbeat and slow it was, and not entirely won over by this new mood. However, repeated plays revealed the strength and depth of the songs on offer and after about the third listen I was actually starting to love it. On the whole, the mood is set by songs more deep and meaningful and there are some really great tracks. The album is definitely more chilled-out and it has a more established tone to it. A band that makes something this poignant and evocative deserves to be heard. Given the time to explore and expand, the four Brighton boys have proven themselves to be something very special.The ones that stand out for me are ‘Feel to Follow,’ ‘Ayla,’ ‘Pelican,’ ‘Forever I’ve Known,’ and the ethereal ‘Glimmer.’ http://www.themaccabees.co.uk/