Elbow have subtly reinvented themselves so many times that they’re now journeying far from their rocky guitar roots. Their 10th album features bubbling synths, playful orchestrations, African-inspired rhythms and what vocalist Guy Garvey has called “seedy, gnarly grooves”. The particularly innovative Lovers’ Leap races through samba-style percussion, darting strings and a rolling bass line, before an electronic glam stomp leads into a gorgeously Beatles-y coda. The lyrics, meanwhile, are a darkly humorous rumination on how we romanticise tragic youth.
Reworded: In other places, the lively Balu is propelled by horns and an upbeat keyboard melody reminiscent of a Wurlitzer. Meanwhile, the intense Good Blood Mexico City draws comparisons to The National’s most grand and dramatic works. “Her to the Earth” gives a nod to Genesis’ “That’s All”, but “Very Heaven” takes a different turn – it is one of their most melancholic and haunting songs to date.
Garvey covers a range of subjects in his writing, including government assistance and his rebellious teenage memories. His writing is sharp and focused. He discusses success by saying, “I haven’t had to pay for transportation or drinks / Or encountered negativity in 20 years / Like escaping poverty / Everything I have is what I earned.” A standout track, “Knife Fight” is inspired by an event he witnessed at a cafe in Istanbul. Garvey constantly looks for new ways to use his voice and even uses a vocoder, but at its core, Elbow’s music is still rooted in sophisticated songwriting that comes from the heart and soul.
Source: theguardian.com
