Elbow
The Take Off and Landing of Everything
Reviewed by: Jane Roser
Released today by Fiction/Concord Records, The Take Off and Landing of Everything is UK alternative rock band Elbow’s 6th studio album. It sees the band taking a new approach to writing and recording with individual band members taking the lead on several tracks, as well as incorporating an orchestra that adds the right touch of melodic complexity to what seems to be their most sincere and personal album to date.
Recorded in part at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios and produced by keyboardist Craig Potter, this album delivers exactly what their fans love about Elbow and more. When a band has played together for over 20 years, they hit the right amount of cohesiveness and natural stride to confidently take some risks that pay off. This album is haunting, bluesy and exciting. It’s like a beautiful stream of consciousness that you hope to never wake up from.
The single “New York Morning” is singer Guy Garvey’s take on life in the big city or “the modern Rome where folks are nice to Yoko” and includes fantastic percussion work. “Fly Boy Blue/Lunette” is, as fan Kyle Kochan describes it , “a great double feature reminiscent of a bygone era.” Starting off rough and edgy and then wrapping up in the peaceful, melodic lyrics of “would the dawn ever kiss me forgivingly kneeling what’s done.”
Just a lovely album for a hot summer’s night.
Rating: Iconic
