Florence & The Machine – High As Hope

It’s really great that Florence & The Machine have become as big as they are. Fronted by the powerful Florence Welch, the group’s true artistry and emotion connect with their fans, and lift them up, including displaying insecurities. Welch proves that a woman doesn’t have to be a confident diva to be a pop star, but can admit and even show her flaws. If new album High As Hope treads some of the same ground that the band has before, it’s still lovely.

This being Florence & The Machine, there are of course big, bold, uplifting anthems of personal experience, such as single “Hunger” and “Patricia”. There are also compelling stripped down moments, like “Big God” and “The End of Love”. There’s even Welch admitting to being a hot mess on “Grace” (though she’s a little old to be ruining an eighteenth birthday…).

Admittedly, Florence & The Machine’s orchestral side (this is a band with a full-time harpist) isn’t used quite as effectively on High As Hope, and every song does feel very much like what you would expect from Florence & The Machine. But it’s wonderful that an artist like this, music like this, is the kind that has stadium draw.