Florence brings ode to youthful love on ‘Hunger’
Three years after the release of their gorgeous third album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, Florence + the Machine is ready for record number four. The album is titled High As Hope and will be released on the 29th of June. Florence gave us a first taste last month when she released the understated ballad ‘Sky Full Of Song’ as part of Record Store Day. Now she drops the official first single ‘Hunger’, complete with video.

‘Hunger’ literally is all I would hope for from Florence + the Machine and a little bit more. The track has a huge three piece chorus that serves hook after hook. The build up is not pop by the numbers, but that did not stop Florence from creating an insanely catchy tune. It probably is one of her most radiofriendly releases to date, but not without giving up any element that makes her work so unique. The production (on which she worked with Emile Haynie) is divine with thunderous drums and the sublte addition of strings. In the lyrics, Florence describes youthful love, both looking back at her own teenage years and showing admiration for the youth of today. This woman can make any topic into poetry. “You make a fool of death with your beauty and for a moment I forget to worry” is one of her best lyrical moments so far. I might start to sound like I am repeating myself, but Florence + the Machine is one of those acts that just steadily delivers strong material as if it is no big deal at all. High As Hope is shaping up to be another stunning album and I for one cannot wait to hear it.