Album- Babel
Artist- Mumford and
Sons
The British indie folk band that both the critics and the
public have really latched onto, particularly with this new album and all the
awards success that it has obtained. I am definitely one of those people, with
Love of the Light being the first of their tracks that I properly listened to
and that intrigued me to see what the rest of their new album offered.
Track 1- Babel
The opening number and title track immediately shows the
reader the band signature sound with earthy vocals and rollicking guitar riffs
that feel really jolly and powerful. The track deeps between intensity and more
down played moments which gives an all-round good vitality to the song. And
with the vocals that sense of intensity is really tangible, with Marcus Mumford
almost being aggressive in his exclamations. But what is really nice is that vocally
he deeps into softer tones and lower keys which have a little more depth and
give that sense of duality to the track. Lyrically it didn’t really register
with me, but that comes out more in other places on the record.
3/5
Track 2- Whispers in
the Dark
The opening of this track is darkly atmospheric but quickly
transitions into powerful guitar riffs. The track lyrically has a sense of
honesty and is all about Mumford not really showing this girl his true feelings
and the love he feels for her. The track features a typical folk rock style
that is signature Mumford and Sons in the chorus. However the lighter guitar
riffs in the verses and the powerful bass at the chorus end gives a dramatic
feel to the track. Vocally it again transitions between softer and more
aggressive vocals, although perhaps not in as powerful a way as the previous
track.
3.5/5
Track 3- I Will Wait
The most successful song of their career is a delicious
slice of folk pop rock that is all about waiting for that someone who is really
distant in your life, inspired by the bands travels on the road away from their
loved ones. The sentiment and hook of the track is a simple sweet idea that
will resonate with many a listen, and is given emotional depth through the
vocals but also is built upon a happier disposition through the production of
the track. With his natural earthy tone we can definitely believe that Mr
Mumford and the boys will wait for us, and within this track in particular the
prominence of the transition of his vocals in terms of range really shines and
creates a strong, homely quality to the number. And with powerful drum beats
and rollicking banjo and guitar riffs, this is a really great track perfect for
that moment of happy (drunken) collectiveness.
4.5/5
Track 4- Holland Road
With the happiness and almost frivolous nature of the
previous track this number starts of nicely with the more down tempo setting
and the low key vocals of Mumford that feel quite heartfelt, particularly
within the repeated line “you cut me down”. However whilst the track works well
in terms of its more sombre mood and ballad like lyrical nature set against a
more aggressive back beat and powerful folky rock sound, at this point it would
seem that the band really only know how to make one kind of song, and so the
track doesn’t have as much impact as it should.
3/5
Track 5- Ghosts That
We Knew
This track really brings you back to loving the record in
that it’s a delicate, down tempo track that never tries to go into that folk
rock power and so offers that nice bit of diversity in the record. The lyrics
pack a powerful emotional punch, with Mumford singing about a relationship where
he feels safe and just needs the promise from his girl that they’ll be okay and
that the ghosts of the past won’t affect them. The stripped back texture of the
track with its light guitar riffs and very low key, delicate vocals that in a
way are almost haunting feels very fresh for the record and attention grabbing.
And although the pace and vocals do pick up to give that sense of drama to the
track, it is not done in the same vein as the previous tracks, and so the risk
of blandness is nicely avoided.
3.5/5
Track 6- Lover of the
Light
This track almost seemingly transitions from the previous
number and feels like a lyrical extension of that number in a small way. Here
we find Mumford singing about his relationship and how he will be all that his
girl needs. The track also features a powerful message in terms of the chorus
which almost commands the listener to love that special person unconditionally.
The track really builds well both in terms of sound and vocals, and whilst the
riffs might be familiar, overall the tone of this number is that bit more deep,
with the swirling violins being a welcome touch of melodrama.
4.5/5
Track 7- Lovers’ Eyes
With a delicate guitar riff that is even more down tempo and
delicate than the previous bout of balladry, this sweet track is nice and
chilled but is lyrically undercut with a sense of emotional intensity, in which
Mumford question whether this particular relationship was just too much too
take. And whilst lyrically it performs well with a blatant sense of heartfelt
honesty, the way the song is structured in terms of the building sound at this
point is annoyingly bland and feels like the band just knock these songs out in
their sleep, but not necessarily a great way.
2.5/5
Track 8- Reminder
Thank you Mumford and Sons. Because this song is just pure,
simple and means that the album is saved. The track is all about remembering
the love that this couple once had, and with a fragile vocal performance and
simple guitar instrumentation, it just feels so chilled and heartfelt you cant
help but love it. And what is also great is that this song is short, and so
keeps it really pure and never tries to be annoyingly elaborate.
4/5
Track 9- Hopeless Wanderer
Hopeless wanderer is a deliciously dark and quite
atmospheric kind of song that still holds a sense of lightness and features
more of a pop rock sensibilities rather than the folksiness of the previous
numbers. Lyrically the track is all about things going wrong with a
relationship and you just losing your way, but the lyrics are probably the
weakest part of the track, as although they are strained in places, Marcus
Mumford’s vocals give a nice deepness too the track. The production is also
really powerful, featuring some cool fast paced piano in the beginning and then
transforming into simple delicious guitar riffs that give a nice, almost dark
undertone to the track.
4/5
Track 10- Broken
Crown
This track keeps the melancholic deepness of the record
going and for me this is when the band kind of excels. The aggressiveness of
this track really gives a great energy to the record and shows they aren’t all
folk ho hey. The track features cool lyrical stresses that give a slow burning intensity
to the track, with this intensity also coming through in the vocals with the
way the voice changes in key. And whilst the folk sound comes more into play
here its deeper and doesn’t feel as up beat, so sounds much better.
3.5/5
Track 11- Below My
Feet
This track is another melancholic number that features a
broken state of the band and so perhaps sours the record at this point as the
record is a little clogged down by deepness and woe. However whilst the vocals
have that sad intensity and the lyrics that broken quality that has permeated the
last half of the record, the production of the song saves the number a little.
This is because through the use of electric guitar undertones, the “haaaa” ad
libs and powerful bass, the track has a rocker edge and epic sounding flavour
that makes it sound like it would be awesome in a stadium situation.
3.5/5
Track 12- Not With
Haste
The final track keeps in line with the folk pop rock
sensibilities and follows that formula of being light and down tempo to begin
with and then changing pace as the track continues. So as far as endings go it’s
a bit lacklustre as you know the band can make this kind of music really well
and you just want that little bit more out of them.
2.5/5
Final Review
It’s totally easy to see why so many people love Mumford and
Sons because their sound is quite unique, they tap into the human psyche well
and they feel passionate about the music they make. The tracks also feature
good harmonisation, gritty vocals from Marcus Muford that resonates, and a
powerful sound overall. However in many ways there songs follow too similar a
formula and just get tiresome, and so it would be not hard to believe that many
of these Mumford fans who bought the
album are simply lighthearted, jump on the bandwagon kind of fans that haven’t really
given the album their full attention.
7.5/10
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