Yesterday was the day that a lot of people were looking forward to. It was the day when a new tune from Mumford & Sons would finally be released. To celebrate that release Mumford and Sons performed a secret and private show in London which was sold out in less than five second. Obviously, I am part of those people who did not have the chance to attend the gig. Next time I guess...
Since the day they shared the art of their future album, the question that many of us were wondering was 'How will it sound like?'. Well, thanks to their new song Believe, we have a beginning of an answer.
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This new album 'Wilder Mind' will be the third one of the band after 'Sigh No More' (2009) and 'Babel' (2012).
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To review this song, Believe, I have to separate in into two parts - and you will understand why later on in this article.
- The first part of this song:
The first notes of the song are just mind-blowingly... different. Just by the first couple of seconds of the song I have understood that the style would be different. Goodbye acoustic guitar, welcome synthesizer and technology. When the voice of the singer Marcus Mumford is heard for the first, that's when the change has become official. The band had abandoned their identifiable indie folk/folk rock sound for something more complicated, a sound that touches the edge of the electric music.
This part of the song is extremely similar to a version of Violet Hill meeting Viva La Vida'from the eponym album by Coldplay. Back in the days Chris Martin and his friends had surprised their fans and the rest of the world by releasing an album that was on the opposite end of what the band was known for, aka acoustic, thoughtful songs. With 'Viva La Vida', Coldplay had decided to become the energetic sensation that we know now.
On the contrary, Mumford and Sons is known for having very energetic songs, thoughtful but with a happy note coming from the instrument; songs on which we can think - and overthink - while dancing.
With Believe, it looks like it has change - with the very first part at least. The song is more serious, the happiness and life that we are used to hear has be replaced by melancholy.
When in the previous albums the instruments where meeting the voice to be linked together to help each other to be more powerful and important, in the first part of this song, the link has been broken. The instruments are almost inexistent leaving this voice alone to try and give a message to the audience.
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- The second part of the song:
Just like in Violet Hill, Believe is cut in half by an instrumental sequence to bring a stronger end to the song.
For Mumford and Sons's song, this passage is also a moment where to introduce the instruments. The voice on top of a quite background music is replaced by a very strong pop-rock very commercial-like one which hides Mumford's voice. Let me tell you that by going from a moment when you have to concentrate to hear all the instruments used to a long high-pitch note played with an electric guitar, you'd better not have your headphones put up to maximum.
This part of the song starts like Violet Hill and ends like it. With Believe, and especially this part - and the rest of the album maybe, Mumford and Sons have lost a part of their singularity. They have lost a part of that element which make the band so special.
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• Here is the official audio of Believe •
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Even though it is extremely different, I love the song. I love Mumford and Sons and I love Coldplay, so I obviously enjoy Believe. Like the majority of their fans, I am very much looking forward to hearing for the rest of the album to see if they prove me wrong.
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| http://www.mumfordandsons.com/ |
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Have a good day,
xx
