July 2015 - Music
After taking a few years to herself, Florence Welch has restarted Florence and the Machine and will return with a new album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, on June 2nd. Welch wrote and recorded the album's 11 tracks last year with producer Markus Dravs. Now the group is releasing the record's first official single, "What Kind of Man," with a video directed by Vincent Haycock and choreography by Ryan Heffington.
The tune builds slowly, as Welch sings to a wishy-washy man who hasn't figured out his life, but whose kiss "inspired a fire of devotion." It then breaks into heavy, tambourine-shaking bass-drum backbeat, as Welch sings, "What kind of man loves like this?" and complains about being strung on by her indecisive beau. The track builds to a densely textured, soulful, brass-heavy pop song. Welch wrote the tune with Kip Harpoon, a songwriter she collaborated with on 2011's Ceremonials and the hit "Shake It Out."
One of the more notable aspects of "How Big How Blue How Beautiful," a collaboration with Isa Summers and the first tune Welch wrote for the record, is its horn arrangement. "The trumpets at the end of that song —that's what love feels like to me: an endless brass section that goes off into space," Welch said. "And it takes you with it. You're so up there. And that's what music feels like to me. You want it just to pour out endlessly, and it's the most amazing feeling."
Florence and the Machine will return to the stage more frequently this year, with appearances scheduled at Coachella, Bonnaroo and Governors Ball. Her busy schedule, which includes a number of dates in Europe, is a sharp contrast to the last couple of years. My rating 8/10.
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