High as Hope- A mature evolution of an already fantastic band.

Music Review- Florence + the Machine- High as Hope (2018)

Known for big bombast and an even bigger voice, High as Hope is much tamer than one might expect from a Florence an the Machine album. But, that is not a bad thing. The album has a clear sense of growth, from the lyrics that are her most personal and poetic to date, as well as her delivery that has an air of sophistication and restraint that adds atmosphere to every track. The album is much more grounded and human than any she has released before as listeners are no longer blasted into an outer body experience like her previous work, but are consumed by her ethereal beauty and lost in the clean and gorgeous production.

Coming off of HBHBHB an album with her most ballsy production choices and biggest choruses, Florence turns to a less is more approach on the album. With very few big hooks/choruses, the tracks lyrics lend themselves to a narrative focus that is more poetic than before and feels less heavy because of it. In addition, she ditches the anger she had in her previous work for a soft more angelic performance. It is clear that Welch has done a lot of growing and listening in between albums as the feeling is much more sombre. However, the lack of hooks and heavier lyrics mean that you appreciate the album a lot more, but the songs do not get stuck in your head as often and therefore you will come back to the work less so than her others.

In addition, at only forty minutes and ten tracks it is her most concise and tight work to date. This also makes it her most consistent with no bad tracks on the album only ones that are less good than the others. However, with the tracks being high in consistency, sophistication and clean production, some songs can bleed into others in the memory, especially tracks like Grace, Patricia, The End of Love and No Choir that all have very similar feels. That is not to say the tracks are ever bad, as each of them have their own flavour, but that flavour is often found in the detail rather than the broader strokes.

The album is definitely a fantastic evolution of Florence and the Machine's sound as it maintains their high quality production and vocals. She is the master at ethereal and angelic songs that allow the listener to get lost in and this album is no different. It is the natural next step for the band and will please their fans greatly as well as welcome many new fans.

Album Review- 8/10

Track By Track Breakdown:

June- A haunting opening number that is beautiful and ethereal. You can hear that this is the same artist that released Lungs those years ago, but this is much more mature and a step up lyrically and atmospherically. By God does this song have an atmosphere: from the eerie opening to the beautifully built up orchestral second half. Ms. Welch comes with an air of sophistication as the earthy bombast has been ditched for a nuanced and detailed euphoria. Though the chorus is not as catchy of a hook as one would hope, the atmosphere and desperation in the outro makes up for it in bucket loads. It is a beautiful build up into Flo's world and a fantastic introduction to an album. (8)

Hunger- The opening verse is so vulnerable that you may have to pause the song there just to fully come to terms with what she is saying. The theme of loneliness that she has expressed in previous albums is manifested as a hunger that she needs to suffice, it is relatable and painful. What elevates the track from her other work of similar themes is the details in the production; the crystal clear strings arrangement with the hollow sounding drum harmonise brilliantly with her background notes that swell and swirl perfectly together over the chorus. It is a clean sound that is raw and vulnerable. In addition, the song is perfect to sing along to and dance as the chorus hits in. It has an energy and a life that is invigorating and beautiful. (9)

South London Forever- Lyrics that resemble poetry, Welch takes us on a journey of her upbringing. Usually I am not a fan of narrative lead lyrics as I prefer catchy hooks over long stories, but Flo's delivery keeps the story interesting as her sprinkle of high notes and vocal flicks make for a detailed and interesting listen. Also, the luscious production that is driven forward by a thumping drum beat keeps the narrative at the forefront and makes the story clear and interesting. In addition, the production is detailed with a flutter of flutes, strings and piano melodies dotted sporadically through making you feel like you are running down a London street and coming across loads of interesting little trinkets. The production is full of life and keeps you on your toes. (8)

Big God- Tense, haunting and dark, a sharp twist to the rest of the album. The production is left feeling sparse after the heavily detailed South London Forever, but the big drums, mighty horns and tension enduing strings are eerie and add all the flavour needed. But, what does a lot of the heavy lifting is Flo's chilling voice. Her big vocals go to town on this track especially in her deeper register. All is elevated by the vocal layering dotted throughout the track for gorgeous and surprising effect. Many times a vocal layer or production choice will jump out from no where like a jump scare. It is an atmospheric and tense track that discusses how Welch feels she needs someone who is larger than life to stop her hurting. Sadly, the tension causes the song to be a tad too slow and with lyrics that aren't as strong as the rest of the album, nor as catchy as other parts, it is left as a good but flawed track. (7)

Sky full of Song- A masterclass in less is more. This song is beautiful in its simplicity. One of Florence's most restrained deliveries ever and it is perfect for that fact. The production is gorgeous with its clean sound and joyous details. It causes your hairs to stand on end how vulnerable the lyrics, vocals and production are, it is a perfect harmony of all three. Rarely does a song hit perfectly the right notes in every aspect, though this song does it like it is easy. It is one to turn up loud with headphones on repeat and just getting lost in her voice and the nuances of the production. The lyrics are not only raw and have a poetic style to them, but the hook lands and causes you to remember the track in all its glory. Every detail adds to the songs perfection. (10)

Grace- As an ode to her sister for looking after her and being her rock, the song is as personal as it gets. As a listener you do feel like a fly on a wall listening to a personal exchange between two sisters. It gets even more personal as the bridge is crushing. The lyrics are very poetic and open and Flo's delivery is soft and slow as if she was talking rather than singing. The outro has a swirl of energy as Welch repeats ''Tell me what I can do, I will make it up to you'' to emotional effect. But, the rest of the song is very tame and again more like a personal conversation than singing. There are songs on the album that get a better harmony between poem and song, whereas this one leans too far to the wrong one. It is decent, but not a stand out. (7)

Patricia- A song in two halves: one, a clap heavy beat that is full of life, two, an airy world to get lost in as Welch repeats her mantra ''It's such a wonderful thing to love''. It's pretty and the sentiment is cute: Welch sings to an artist that has inspired her and teaches her to love and believe in herself. But, because it tries two worlds with one upbeat and the other more sombre, the track is left in no mans land. The pretty sections are not long enough for it to be remembered as such to a large fashion. The more lively section is not energetic enough for it be remembered as such. The song definitely has its moments, but it doesn't choose a clear enough direction to properly it to reach the heights Welch was aiming for. (6)

100 Years- A song sounding inspired from the better tracks from her Ceremonial days. For an album that is tamer than Welch's usual work, 100 Years' bombastic life and thumping beat are welcoming blasts from the past. The heavy strings and in your face percussion give the foundation for Flo to give her biggest vocals of the record. The song is memorable and loud and glorious for it. Though it is the longest track, it uses every second to fantastic effect, so it never feels like it is out staying its welcome. From as soon as those first drum beats kick in the song takes on a new life that is energetic and fabulous. The lyrics are the darkest on the album: ''Funerals were held all over the city, The youth bleed in the square, And women raged as old men fumbled and cried''. Flo sings with a rage that is unmatched and haunting. The images are chilling and are etched in your memory along with the chorus. (10)

The End of Love- Opening with an introduction over a minute long of orchestral instruments, the song takes it time and never rushes to get anywhere. And, as Welch is discussing deep family distress she can take all the time she needs. ''In a moment of joy and fury I threw myself, From the balcony like my grandmother so many years before me'': discussing her Grandmother's suicide and how she feels her family has just been falling with her ever since, the song is more personal than any track before it. The song is angelic and ethereal in a way that only Florence know how to be. The songs flaw comes from the bridge where a gospel left turn comes out of nowhere and feels out of place as Welch tells of a man not replying to her; the bridge just feels out of place on a track so tightly and elegantly written about family trauma and the effects it has on lives even after the family members are gone. (7)

No Choir- Welch alone with only her voice delivering some of the most fantastic lyrics in the first thirty seconds: ''And it's hard to write about being happy, 'Cause the older I get, I find that happiness is an extremely uneventful subject''. The song is a gorgeous closer as it captures the album perfectly with a more mature Welch and cleaner production and the end outro of just Flo making notes as she gets lost in her thoughts. It is delightful as an ending to the album. However, at just two minutes thirty the track has less to offer to come back to if not listening to it as an album closer. It is sweet, ethereal and angelic, but not the most stand out tracks. (7)