British alternative collective Florence + The Machine (Florence Welch) return following a three-year hiatus with a new single, “Sky Full of Song.”

After a three-year hiatus, Florence + The Machine are back with new music! In 2015, Florence Welch allured with the likes of “What Kind of Man,” “Ship to Wreck,” and “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” from the band’s third album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.  Does her latest single, “Sky Full of Song” keep the momentum going? For the most part, yes.

“Sky Full of Song” begins instantly with Florence Welch’s vocals. This is truly a blessing. As always, she sounds commanding, incredibly expressive, and soulful.  Gradually, the instrumentation fills in, expanding the production, but never ‘stealing her thunder.’ In addition to the instrumentation, lovely, haunting background vocals further amplify Welch’s lead.  She’s at her most dynamic and robust on the chorus, as to be expected.

“Hold me down, I’m so tired now

Aim your arrow at the sky

Take me down, I’m too tired now

Leave me where I lie.”

Final Thoughts

“Sky Full of Song” is very much a Florence + The Machine song – totally missed Welch and company. That said, arguably, this record never quite reaches the same degree of power as say “What Kind of Man.”  It’s a tall task to follow up that gem obviously, but once seeing Welch that mad, it’s hard not to want even more.  Nonetheless, “Sky” delivers ‘the goods.’  Still, it would’ve been great to hear Welch really kick into that next gear – add even more oomph.

Florence + The Machine • Sky Full of Song – Single • Universal Music • Release: 4.13.18

Photo Credit: Universal Music