Florence + The Machine, High As Hope – A captivating lyrical narration of youth stripped bare.
Album review by Hollie Hughes, a fabulous member of our blog team.
There’s something about Florence + The Machine’s new album, High As Hope, which leaves its listeners feeling distant in the best possible way.
Perhaps it is the strikingly titanic yet stripped back vocals from the lead Florence Welch, producing a soft and sombre tone which creates such a mood, distinctly varied to the jarring strength her voice emanates within the band’s previous releases. Directly contrasted to the musician’s previous work, the tracks carried within High As Hope showcase considerably less of Welch’s ability to captivate an audience through the sheer dominance and power her vocals exude. Rather, they expose the enthralling beauty within the dexterity of her heavenly vocal range.
The band’s fourth studio album does inherently well in reminding an audience of the immense power music holds, especially in relaying poignant and powerful personal tales. This power is illustrated throughout each track, primarily encircling the trials of youth bound within the encapsulating and transcendent themes of fondness and regret.
This conceptualisation is outlined in the album’s opening track, “June”. It is delightful to hear the vocalist’s exploration of a calmer lyrical performance, allowing the listener to ease into the track. Such artistry allows the listener to remain conscious to the track’s holistic production rather than Welch’s commonly overpowering vocals singularly, allowing the craft to shine as she sounds lighter and freer than ever before.
Welcoming diversity in their musical prowess by opting for a softer sound throughout the album is as refreshing to consumers of High As Hope as it is uncommon in an ever-evolving contemporary musical landscape. With the modern music scene heavily dominated by theatrical productions of sound, the calmness High As Hope radiates matched by immense authenticity and individuality is a truly rare composition to find within the dominant proportion of contemporary artists.
The album takes on a feminist tact through the track “Patricia”. The track is an elegant homage to a woman Welch deems immensely important in her life, Patti Smith, whom she names her “North Star.” This simple yet stunning appreciation in lyrical narration for an artist who, while continuing to emanate love and compassion, paved the way for women faced with oppression is utterly inspiring and adds considerable weight to the album’s audience impact.
The album is by far Florence in her most intimate on record, embracing both the darkness and light which has led her to where she is today.
High As Hope breaks free of the constraining melodramatic energy which drenched previous Florence + The Machine releases, allowing for a raw and open collection of tracks to be brought to the forefront. It highlights the growth of the band and the opportunity for optimism accompanying one’s journey within youth and coming out of it in a simplistically enchanting tone.
Stars: 4/5