Fourth studio album from Florence Welch and the crew. The London outfit first teased the album on Record Store Day with a super limited seven-inch containing the delectable "Sky Full Of Song" (backed with Welch reading an original poem), and the full long player delivers on the promise of that single and more. It's been almost a decade since the band arrived on a massive wave of hype with 2009's Lungs, but it's clear they're still one of the strongest songwriting machines in music in 2018 and they're not letting up. The arrangements (co-produced with Emile Hayne) are a little more reserved than their previous stadium-tuned efforts, providing a wider platform for Welch's powerful lungs. Includes contributions from Jamie XX, Kamasi Washington, Father John Misty, Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow, Nathan Willett of Cold War Kids, Sufjan Stevens collaborator Doveman and more. Tracks to check out: "100 Years,"  "Big God," "Hunger" and "South London Forever." Black vinyl pressing with printed inner sleeve and giant lyric booklet.

• heavyweight black vinyl pressing
• includes 12-page printed lyric booklet
• full color printed inner sleeve
• music label: Republic Records 2018

reviewed by spooning good singing gum 07/2018