By Liz Belilovskaya

Florence + the Machine returns with the follow-up to their debut with Ceremonials, an incredible album that is one of the most original sounding records released by any mainstream female artist (or female-fronted band) this year. Miss Welch delivers consistently impressive vocals with extraordinary emotional depth and appeal; mixing everything from raw gospel to delicately selected tribal elements, creating something that sounds intuitively familiar and yet refreshingly different from the current popular Electro trend. The Machine has gone organic on this one and we are going with it.

“Only If for a Night” begins with piano and the distant but powerful voice of Welch singing “And I had a dream about my old school, and she was there all pink and gold and glittery, I threw my arms around her leg…” Steady beats come in right as she finishes the line sounding like re-vamped Enigma, only better. Welch softens her vocals on “Shake It Out,” which feature higher bpm and a lighter tone. The song resembles something from Milla Jovovich’s album The Divine Comedy with emotional, tender and layered with lyrics like “Looking for heaven for this devil in me.” An acoustic version of this is featured on the bonus disk, as well as the next track, “What the Water Gave me.” Centered around the theme of drowning, it is dark and abstract and choir-like with sad undertones. The vocals are amazing, reminding audiences of the vocal stylings of Jefferson Airplane.

Next is “Never Let Me Go” with church-infused rhythm, possessed of a sad but powerful aura.  “Breaking Dawn” features heavy drums and a violin, supporting Welch’s lofty, euphoric vocals. “All along it was always there you see, and even on my own it was always standing next to me” she sings.  Easily one of album’s highs. The upbeat “Lover to Lover” is more pop inspired, Duffy end of the spectrum. The awesome piano, softer voice and faster tempo all complement each other. “No Light, No Light” brings the mood back to a somber state with its organ-like tones, long vocals and distant disposition. “Seven Devils” continues on the previously emoted sad note, but with a deliciously devious and a bit playful edge.

The crew gets tribal with “Heartless,” is a cool, chant-ish, with many unique choir elements in the song (and the accompanying acoustic version) that draw an interesting contrast to the rest of the album. It is raw and unpolished compared to the precision gloss of her other songs but has a very organized quality to it. “Leave My Body” initiates slowly, with a soulful reflection about life and passing into heaven with lyrics “I don’t need your future, I don’t need your past…I am going to leave my body.” The song picks up the pace and features that running choir undercurrent present throughout the album.

There are four completely original tracks on the bonus disk, the other five are different versions of songs from the main disk. “Remain Nameless,” “Strangeness & Charm,” “Bedroom Hymns” and “Landscape” are different from the rest of the album; some having more tech savvy tints or synthetic dabble, all with a faster tempo but with the same spiritual influence. It is a great addition for those who like the Electro world but occasionally need a break from it. This gives you just enough to sustain our preferences while we discover and fall in love with a sound unlike the mainstream.

Ceremonials features music as flexible as the vocals. There are harps, strings, drums and signature piano all over the record, invoking thoughts of African inspired chanting, European church choirs and classical music spiced up with just the right amount of modernization. Everything is efficient with very little waste. The result is an ethereal blend that totally matches the celestial themes: heaven, demons, empowerment and, of course, love. The best part about this album is the sonic progression from their debut, which was damn good. Florence + The Machine are on an upward trajectory of musical inspiration. We can only hope it will continue.
4.5 Out of 5

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