Ceremonials

I was almost worried that Florence wouldn't be able to follow up on her absolutely perfect debut, but listening to the album (For the 6th time now) all of my fears have been eradicated. Absolutely stunning vocals and lyrics swell beautifully with dark, haunting, and exciting music, with the instrumentation flowing so perfectly into the songs! This album easily tops Lungs' stunning sound and expands upon it. If you loved Lungs, you will love this even more, of this I have little doubt. Only If For A Night - A stunning opener, which starts off softly with 'And I had a dream/about my my old school/and she was there all pink and gold and glittering', and those three lines just leave me feeling nostalgic already, as Florence thinks about her past. The music swells into the wonderful chorus, making this song the perfect opener. Shake It Out - The second single released thus far, and lots of fun to listen to. A far more 'dancy' tune then some of the others, even with the really dark lyrics. The deep organ sound at the start really carries the song along. 'It's always darkest before the dawn...' Florence calls, as the song picks up, and the song's central thought it revealed, albeit through an exciting tune. Great song. What the Water Gave Me - The first single, and possiblity my favorite Florence track of all time. The song, at over 5:30 long, is a winding stunner, as Florence croons about drowning herself 'Cuz they took your loved ones, but will return them in exchange for you'. She explains why she must die, and that 'she's a crueler mistress, and a bargain must be made'. Powerful lyrics, powerful vocals, haunting melodies, and amazing music tops my music list for quite awhile. Never Let Me Go - The beginning of the track confused me for a minute, before I really started getting into this one. A rather slow one from Florence, opening with a soft piano track and only faint drums to carry it along, alongside loads of harmony from Florence, and a loving, sweeping chorus. Breaking Down - Starts with what sounds like a harpsichord, with a bouncy drum track, and never lets up from there. I was reluctant at first, but the harpsichord sounds proved addicted, and I'm really loving this song now. The echoing sound from Florence's voice in this one is wonderful! Lover to Lover - Easily one of the most dance-worthy songs on the album, it sounds quite a lot like an old gospel song, which Florence's giant voice fills perfectly. The jazzy piano and the clever harmonies work wonders. No Light, No Light - The opening of this one really kept me on my toes, as I had no idea where this one was going. The verses are so different from the chorus, but they work together wonderfully, in a big, open-space, song. Seven Devils - Oh my god, one of the most haunting songs I've ever heard. One of my favorites. The lilting, creepy, fearful edge of the piano and strongs, conbined with a urgent sense in Florence's voice equates to one of the most stunning songs on here. Heartlines - An aching song of what seems like some sort of love, as Florence sings over a thrumming bass line and pounding drums, with a sparkle of harp on the edges. The powerful chorus is just amazing! Spectrum - Opening with a soft humming high violin note, as Florence sings softly over the soft music. Florence's wodnerful voice really shows its range, as we move into the throbbing chorus, settling down as the song moves to a close. All This and Heaven Too - A quicker song, opening with sparse intrumentals, before moving into a driving chorus, as the background vocalless singing carries the song beautifully. Leave My Body - Opens creepily, and when Florence begins to sing, the song continues the almost creepy edge, but cools off a bit, intul we pull into the haunting chorus, as Florence croons 'I'm gonna leave my body, I'm gonna lose my mind...' Remain Nameless - Opens with a deep bass line, computerized drum beats, and echoing, haunting vocals. Sparse intrumentation, with a creepy drive the entire time, as Florence sings about how she wishes to 'remain nameless... Live without shame...". The music keeps to a stready thrum in the background during much of the song, focusing mostly on Florence's vocals and lyrics. This one has a great dance beat though, and really manages to be amazing. Strangeness and Charm - Relentless voice, relentless music. Just plain fun, with a driving beat, loads of vocals, and a sweeping chorus. I'm glad I got the bonus tracks, especially because of this. Bedroom Hymns - Really fun beat at the start, with a distorted electric guitar. Florence's vocals come in quickly, and carry the song on a long jaunty path. Definently has a religious feel to the song, as Florence sings about 'Jesus on the mind', and how she's 'already on her knees', as the song sweeps forward. What the Water Gave Me (Demo) - A really interesting version of What the Water Gave Me. It starts with more of a synthesized song, instead of the sweeping music in the actual version, that makes this version sound more like a techno remix rather then a Demo. Fun nevertheless, but this one actually puts the emphasis on the chorus rather then the verses, which the actual song does in reverse. Overall an amazing album. I'm so happy with it, and believe this is my favorite album this year.

The much-anticipated follow-up to their first studio album "Lungs", Florence + The Machine have hit new creative heights with this latest release. The first thing I have to say about "Ceremonials" is that it is compulsively listenable. I rarely come across an album where I don't feel the need to constantly hit the track button on my mp3 player. I am content throughout the entire listening experience and sure to find new things to appreciate each time I listen. I already have my favorites that I go to again and again but it's all wonderful. In its early stages, Florence Welch said the album was "much bigger", even inventing her own genre for it and dubbing it "chamber soul" (a mix of soul music and chamber pop). And it is much bigger - "Ceremonials" is highly theatrical, its dramatic compositions comprised of classical instruments (piano, harp, strings) and beatific choral segments its principal elements. I feel as if I'm attending an opera or a symphony when I listen to it. Each song grabs one's attention, with some containing unique and unpredictable transitions. All of its musical blueprints are one of a kind yet blend seamlessly to create a near flawless collection of baroque pop opuses. Strong, punctuated notes on piano and a twinkling harp make for a strong entrance for Welch onto the album and into its first track "Only If For A Night". Though I loathe saying this (and it's ironic, considering I watch the show), I can just see "Glee" trying "Shake It Out" on for size; this track has the same playability factor of "Dog Days Are Over", its chorus perfect for belting (shake it out, shake it out/shake it out, shake it out, oh woah!/and it's hard to dance with the devil on your back/so shake him off!). It's easy to see after listening to its upbeat and contagious rhythms and lyrics why it was one of the album's first singles. "What The Water Gave Me" does a PJ Harvey-esque creep into the proceedings ("Down By The Water" comes to mind), its lazy, hollow guitar riff and slighting droning and moody chorus making it a sound addition to this collection. "Never Let Me Go" is a majestic and despairing love song, one that speaks of accepting a love affair's end and surrendering in full to its heartbreak (and it's over/and I'm going under/but I'm not giving up/I'm just giving in). Welch talks of the ocean "carrying" her, and the song fades fittingly on what sounds like the glug of brackish depths and the distant echo of whale song. "Breaking Down" and "Lover To Lover" are the steadiest and most mainstream pop-rock tracks on here. "No Light, No Light" grabs the listener by the shirt collar with its arresting chorals and funereal organ, its hymnal beginnings quickly foraying into a turbulent and urgently paced song. The foreboding of "Seven Devils" induces goosebumps with its introductory effects and rolling cymbals, the listener jolted into attention as Welch sharply breaks the whispery atmosphere with a tortured vocal. The song has a certain sense of dread rooted in its eerie assembly, much the kind with which its singer is all too familiar (Welch suffers from panic attacks). I was instantly attracted to its dark ambiance, in particular its labored and thunderous drumbeat along with its trickling and creeping piano refrain that inspired visions of suspense and horror films, not to mention its theme of the many "devils" that reside inside us all and threaten to tear us down. "Heartlines" ascends with chimes, the distant cawing of a bird, and a relentless and commanding drum beat overlaid by an almost primal call of "yeah" that prances up and down the scales as the song commences into a hammering and frantic pace. A prolonged and tremulous note from a violin opens "Spectrum" with Welch coming in softer and lower than is characteristic of her, but it's only seconds before she's trilling in the upper octaves on the song's chorus, beseeching the recipient of her song to "say my naaaaame!" while she pierces their eardrums with her unapologetic wailing. "All This And Heaven Too" contains some beautiful and lucid songwriting; it the best track lyrically on the album. "Leave My Body" is a magnificent and celestial closer, haunting and echoey gradations of Welch's voice fading the record out like sonic screams evaporating into the vastness of space. I find myself agreeing with another reviewer's supposition* (see 3-star review titled "Devil's Advocate") that a measured amount of restraint on Welch's part would've given the album more nuance. But it's hard to suppress a voice like that - after all, Welch often got herself into trouble in primary school for impromptu singing, so now that she is an adult and no longer under the thumb of petty authority, why would someone ever expect her to reign it in again? Despite this one small complaint, I am very much in love with this release, and would wholeheartedly recommend it to friends and fans of the band alike. One of my observations of this album is Welch's constant references to water, and I use this element to give a final impression on potential listeners by saying that although clarity may not be apparent in "Ceremonials" (some lyrics are harder to interpret than others - sometimes only the poet knows what they are talking about), fluidity most certainly is there. And boy, is it ever cool and refreshing too.

Florence emerged as one of the most interesting new acts in a long time, and Lungs was an extraordinary debut album. Ceremonials, her second, is even better. She has developed a consistent sound that may seem repetitive at times, but is never anything but thoroughly engaging. This record has a HUGE sound. It's like Phil Spector in Africa meets Kate Bush's The Dreaming. Very similar to her approach on Lungs, of course, but Ceremonials is tighter and the arrangements are more haunting. You are sucked in right from the first track, "Only If for a Night", and Florence never lets up, enveloping you with her alternately sweet, sad, scary, and inspiring music for the entire album. My favorite tracks were "Breaking Down" (instantly my all-time favorite Florence song), "Shake It Out" (which I believe has the potential to be a #1 U.S. hit), "Lover to Lover", "Spectrum", and "Leave My Body". The last six tracks suffer just a little bit compared to the excellent first six, but I really don't think Florence could have done any better with this album. It's stunning. Even the deluxe edition bonus tracks are essential - one wonders why the intoxicating and erotic "Bedroom Hymns" didn't officially make the cut. Lungs was a great record, but the songs didn't grab me quite as much as these ones do. EDIT: I must clarify my opinion of Florence. The thing is, I'm not crazy about her voice. She has one of those deep wails that always sounds like she's trying too hard. The reason I love this album so much - and the reason some people don't - is her willingness to go for bombast; to be positively theatrical with the music and the drums and the strings and the soaring choruses. Her voice isn't what I find addictive about the record (though I do like her performances) so I don't mind that the instruments cover it up a bit. I guess that's why I think Lungs is a lesser album than Ceremonials overall.

One of the things I really liked about Lungs was the way Florence really went for it: she's got a big voice, and she constructs big songs to support it. It's not surprising, given that album's success, that she takes that approach again on Ceremonials. If anything, she pushes it even further. These songs have soaring vocals, pounding rhythms, and layers upon layers of lush, gorgeous instrumentation. It's a rare thing indeed for an artist to be both popular, talented, and intelligent, but Florence + the Machine has really got it all. Sure, it can seem overly melodramatic at times, but that's part of the charm. This is big, insistent music from one of the standout artists of the past few years. The additional tracks on the deluxe edition are well worth the extra few bucks, too. When it comes to Florence + the Machine, bigger is better, so an expanded 16 track playlist is definitely something I'm glad to have in my collection. I find myself wondering where she'll go from here. Will the songs be dramatically different next time around, or is this the sound she wants to settle into for good? Time will tell, but for now I'm happy to enjoy and appreciate what we've got right now. There's nothing quite like the experience of listening to a musician (a true artist, no less) in her heyday. Florence is in her prime right now. May it last many years.

Check out Florence's B version of Lungs, great songs as well! Lungs was running on the moors. Ceremonials is the battle held there. Here is my uneducated, non-musical review but don't blow me off just yet. It's dark and gripping. I can't say I love every song, In fact, there are two I know I'll skip but the ones I like are so, so good, I can forgive the misses. The songs I do only merely "like" I would love were it not for the songs on here that are so fantastic. I kind of get a Peter Gabriel/Annie Lennox vibe (and ain't that cool??) on this CD. So, here's what I think of some them indvidually which is something I don't usually do, break it down by song. Must be a Florence thing. #1 Only If For a Night - intense #2 Shake It Out - might be the best song on the album, what a song #3 What the Water Gave Me - pruny fingers, ha, seriously, awesome running on the moors song #4 Never Let Me Go - beautiful #7 No Light, No Light - again, one of the best on the disc #8 Seven Devils - in my mind, I will always think of this as the Snow White song even though it isn't about Snow, love it #9 Heartlines - I really like this song except for the chorus. It seems a bit flat to me, not as melodious. Must need to get my ears checked. #10 Spectrum - awesome #12 Leave My Body - dark and beautiful #13 Remain Nameless - kind of slithers into your psyche and I like it! sick puppy that I am #14 Strangeness and Charm - hmm, okay I love this song except for the little hiccup effect she has late in the tune -- feeling only love, feeling only love...haha, I've got that lyric wrong but I still think it works. #15 Bedroom Hymns - This song is freakingly awesome and one of the best on the album. Why isn't this on the regular CD so everyone can enjoy it? #16 Water demo - nice alternative version of What the Water Gave Me Thanks for reading.

When Florence Welch dropped her debut single, "Kiss With a Fist," in 2008, the young British artist earned herself a great deal of buzz around the world. It was a clever tune, similar to the likes of Kate Nash, but what followed in July 2009 with the release of her debut album, "Lungs," was so much more impressive. Filled with a lush instrumentation including harps, strings, full choirs and vibrant drums all accompanying her unbelievably powerful voice, "Lungs" put Florence in the spotlight. In less than two years she was sharing the stage with the likes of Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams, and Martina McBride for a Grammy tribute to Aretha Franklin. Following the success of "Lungs," Florence + the Machine returned to the studio with producer Paul Epworth, who produced Adele's massive hit, "21," earlier this year. Although the heightened expectations for an artist following a successful debut can often result in mediocre sophomoric efforts, Florence Welch delivers another impressive collection of music on "Ceremonials" with an even more florid instrumentation than before. Beginning with "Only If for a Night," Florence quickly dives back into a sea of reverb-laden pianos, monumental drums, and doubled vocals on the chorus. Although the buildup is less gradual here than on her crowd-pleasing "Cosmic Love" from two years ago, the song still manages to find a unique balance between power and beauty; proving to fans that Florence + the Machine has plenty left to offer. The first single off of "Ceremonials" was "Shake It Out" and it follows "Only If for a Night" with even more energy thanks to a greater focus on percussion. With a chorus echoing in the distance, Florence wills an invisible crowd to stand up and sing along at the top of their lungs. Although Welch could fill a stadium with her voice, "Shake It Out," feels as though it's looking to fill the whole planet at once. With lyrics about moving past your problems and shaking the devil off your back added to the bombastic instrumentation, it's hard not to feel empowered while listening. Although Florence + the Machine typically keep each of their tracks between three and five minutes in length, a little extra time is granted to "What the Water Gave Me" to allow the music to paint the appropriate picture. Like water, the crescendos on this track come in waves, building and releasing tension throughout the song. By the end of "What the Water Gave Me" it also becomes clear to the listener what type of record "Ceremonials" is destined to become. With three tracks each as epic as the last starting off the record with a bang, Florence + the Machine knows what will sell, but with Welch's voice still always the main focus, "Ceremonials" is an album tailored to her unparalleled vocal projection. Following the success of Adele's "21," Florence + the Machine occasionally utilize parts of "Ceremonials" to broaden their horizons ride on the coattails of Adele's fame. That is not to say Florence + the Machine do not already have enough fans, but Adele's audience seems to be everyone and therefore, Welch uses tracks like "Lover to Lover" to prove her voice can be just as soulful as it is powerful. Despite offering up 12 dynamic songs that are all individually impressive and beautiful, as an album, "Ceremonials" feels weaker than "Lungs" on a straight through listen. The reason behind this is entirely a lack of variation. On "Lungs," Welch sang from her heart with a great deal of emotion elegantly laced into the slower tunes. This gave the grandeur of the upbeat percussive tracks some extra significance and turned a simple change of pace into an earth-shattering anthem. Now, two years later, Florence + the Machine have seen the eyes of their fans light up when these anthems are performed and "Ceremonials" gives them the ammunition necessary to fill a concert with these massive compositions. When played back to back on an album, however, they begin to lose some of their prestige; so much so that tracks like "Spectrum" and "Leave My Body," which both start with slower vocal solos, are almost disappointing when the thump of the drums enter. The word epic comes to mind instantly when describing "Ceremonials." For anyone hoping to see Florence + the Machine in concert, this is an ideal release. With so many high-powered tunes to choose from, Florence + the Machine have released an album that will push their live show to the next level. However, when just listening to their recordings, "Ceremonials" begins to feel like a one trick pony. It's a really great trick though. Track Suggestion: "Shake It Out"

"Ceremonials" by Florence + the Machine is definitely one of the best albums of 2011. Florence Welch and that stunning, out-of-this-world voice of hers finally won me over when I heard "No Light, No Light" on the radio. It's hard to believe how that song makes me feel so many complexed emotions, and goes through so many different layers. Starts off real quiet and hits you right in the gut once the chorus kicks in...amazing! I knew I just had to buy "Ceremonials", and her debut album "Lungs" and I'm so glad I did! The deluxe edition is worth every penny! There is not one bad song on this album, every track is full of passion, longing, guilt, and there are even songs about death. "Leave My Body" is about wanting to die but the music and lyrics are so sexy and hypnotic, you don't know whether to cry or to smile? "Seven Devils" is a haunting song and I have to admit, parts of it scare me! That's what is so special about "Ceremonials" - Florence pulls you in, you believe every word she sings. The best track by far is the opener, "Only If For A Night". Musically, it's one of the most provocative songs I've heard all year! "Spectrum", "Heartlines", "Bedroom Hymns", and "Breaking Down" are standouts as well but like I said, every song is a gem! I highly recommend this album and white girl got some soul on "Lover to Lover". You have to hear it to believe it...enjoy!

When describing the album Lungs I think of dark almost gothic undertones and pounding drum beats. That, or you have ethereal and vulnerable moments as you do in the song "Cosmic Love". Ceremonials is the yang to the yin offering light to whatever haunts you. The two albums are different when it comes to the mood they offer and I can understand why some people might be dissapointed by the lack of "shadows" in this album. Or the lack of a certain "feeling" that Lungs genertated. Ceremonials for the most part is uplifting, almost spiritual; in the song "Shake it out" Florence tells us that its hard to dance with the devil on your back, so shake him off. Some songs have an almost choir like quality with multiple voices for the chorus. What you can expect from Ceremonials is the continued quality of Florence's voice, dramatic instrumentals punctuated by percussion, and that certain magic thats so unique to this artist. I am incredibly partial to the album Lungs and I believe my fierce love for it makes me more biased towards anything new. However there are worth while songs in Ceremonials and you can bet the live performances will rock you off your feet. By now you might be wondering if Ceremonials is better than Lungs... I dont think that it is, however I dont think you should miss it either.

Ceremonials is a phenomenal album. Her vocals shine through once again and I can definitely listen to this album on repeat all the time. Although her voice is not for everyone, her songs are definitely excellent.

MUY BONITO, FUE PARA REGALO Y LE ENCANTO A MI HIJA

Gran disco y buena compra.

Goed aangekomen, klinkt perfect!

Sensacional!! Material de alta qualidade, discos de vinil com 180g e sonoridade perfeita. Encarte lindo, com fotos e textos sobre a produção do disco. Uma verdadeira obra de arte.