Mumford & Sons
were formed back in December 2007 and after their first album ‘Sigh No More’ reached number one in the
Irish and Australian album charts, and eventually peaked at number two in the
UK after selling over five million copies, the band were propelled into the
limelight. Having already been awarded the ARIA
Music Award for Most Popular International Artist in 2010, the Brit Award in 2011 for Best British
Album and a European Border Breakers
Award for their international success in 2001, the Indie-Folkers had a
great deal riding on their second record.
Unusually, Markus Dravs produced ‘Babel’, who has worked previously with Coldplay and Arcade Fire, begins with the title track, which is full of
the most stunning echoed harmonies and the leading banjo Mumford fans are used to. Marcus
Mumford’s voice is full of soul, potency and intensity, but still retains a
sentimental and honest element through his nature-associated lyrical choices ‘Winds
will howl…slip into the clouds.’
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| Artwork: 'Babel' |
Although
there is a similar structure to each track on the album, each is powerful
enough to potentially stand alone as a single, which is something very rarely
found in an album. Each song breaks down towards the end, which constantly works
extremely well because of Marcus Mumford’s
wonderful vocals. And let’s face it; you know you found a good song when you’re
disappointed when it ends!
The
relatable lyrics in ‘Whispers in the Dark’
come across as compelling and full of passion because of how fervent the
instrumentation is; ‘I’m worried I blew my only chance.’ Despite how potent ‘I Will Wait’ is, it is difficult to decipher
it as the album’s single because of how effective the entire album is. However,
the track was released on the 7th of August this year and peaked at
number twelve in the UK Singles Chart.
The track is as lurid, yet fresh and organic, despite its ‘I Would Do Anything for Love’-esque piano sections. But as listeners have come to expect nothing but
perfection from Mumford & Sons, that
is what is delivered, with the most descriptive and hard-hitting lyrics, ‘Paint
my spirit gold.’
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| Mumford & Sons |
Through ‘Holland Road’, Mumford & Sons have proven they are capable of something very
unusual; they have managed to not only preserve their unique style, but also
seem as refreshing as ever. They have more than broken the cliché of how
difficult releasing a successful second record can be after an excellent debut.
Additionally, ‘Ghosts That We Know’ begins with an almost acapella style, that
is sharp but very gentle through its harmonies, and is driven by the most
sensitive and moving lyrics; ‘‘I’ll
give you hope all of your life, just promise me we’ll be alight.’
Piano-led ‘Lover of The Light’ is something quite
unusual for the band. Yet it is still has a flamboyant, gorgeous rhythmic melody
that evolves into involving more instruments and a dramatic finish. The
start-stop motion of ‘Lover’s Eyes’
is so captivating, and when intertwined with various rhythms and melodies onto
of one another, you can’t help but keep listening. Mumford & Sons have composed something as classic and reliable
as a Bible to a Christian. Speaking of which, the number of sweeping Biblical
references in ‘Babel’ is astounding,
but what is even more astounding is the fact that they fail to isolate the
listener if they aren't that way inclined.
Rustic and
Indie, ‘Reminder’ and ‘Hopeless Wanderer’ are worlds apart of
the bulk of popular, auto-tuned, white-wash music. The tracks are full of
melodramatic build-ups, various breakdowns and constant shifts from eerily calm
to downright erratically loud at times. The anger of ‘Broken Crown’ (so anger fuelled it uses a certain F-word!), but
still manages to merge perfectly with the tender notions of ‘Below My Feet.’ In fact, it is so mellow yet intoxicating; it’s
almost hymn-like.
The multi-instrumental
quartet bring ‘Babel’ home with ‘Not With Haste’, which certainly does
what it says on the tin! But is is still as provoking and undeniably full of
heart. Like the rest of the album, even when emotional, it is toe-tappingly warm
and comforting somehow. ‘Babel’ is a
modern Folk classic, and so much more than a hoe-down soundtrack.
5/5
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