Elbow – The Take Off and Landing of Everything

Elbow have always been a band with a recognisable sound and style, and although their sixth studio album The Take Off and Landing of Everything has a much gentler overall tempo to previous records, it is by no means lesser for it. There are no real epic sing-along opportunities in this collection of songs, unlike previous well-known Elbow hits such as One Day Like This or Open Arms – instead this album presents its contents in a seductively relaxing manner, and as the album plays through, each song manages to offer up something a bit different to the former, while working all together to create an captivating collection of music.

The title track of the album is by no means the best, being outshone by the single New York Morning, a vocally beautiful tribute to a city. Fly Boy Blue/Lunette is another standout; the switch in the middle of the song from the darker, more rhythmic beginning into a quieter, more reverent end keeps you on your toes, and echoes the general theme of the album of a subtle change in style between tracks, while keeping a common sound. Charge is one of the moodier songs on the album, featuring strings more heavily, and Honey Sun is a lovely demonstration of lead singer Garvey’s vocals, with low, gravelly verses combined with a brighter melody in the chorus. 

The Take Off and Landing of Everything >has some really beautiful moments of complete harmony between the vocal and the instrumental, and is an album that you could re-listen to many times and feel something different each time. It doesn’t stray too far from the recognisable Elbow style, so long-term fans will be satisfied, but it does well in engaging a new listener into exploring the band further. 

Amy McLelland

The Take Off and Landing of Everything is released on 10^th March 2014. For further information or to order the album visit Elbow’s website here.

Watch the video for New York Morning here: