I have no idea why I’m doing this. I think it’s because I’m bored and a bit ill. So, I’ll write it then probably delete it straight away because I’ll have written something more shite than usual. I probably shouldn’t be allowed access to anything I can write on because shit just pours out. on’t worry, I’ll quit soon. I think my days of wanting to be a Music Writer are slowly disppearing. Maybe. I don’t know.

It’s obvious Ceremonials is the best album of this year. Disagree and you probably wath X-Factor or some shit. It’s usually the case isn’t it. They have no talent. Florence does. A hell of a lot. Ceremonials is creepy and ghoulish (if that isn’t a word, I’ve now decided it is.) It’s darker than Lungs, a lot darker. Is it better? I cannot answer that. If I tried to, I’d probably have some kind of break-down and cry down the phone to my mum. She’d tell me to go for a walk. However I’m in no fit state to go for a walk because I am ill. It’s the flu or something, I’ll go out tomorrow and infect people with germs. Potter around a supermarket and cough over some soup tins. Stay classy.

Only If For A Night: FUCK ME WHAT AN AMAZING OPENER TO AN ALBUM. I think I cried when I heard it for the first time. It’s just this outrageously brilliant song that, when you read the lyrics you see just how awfully sad it is. If I’m not mistake (which I probably could be) it seems to be about her dead Grandma. When you look at the lyrics, you really do see just how much of a poet Florence really is. It’s all well and good when a singer can make you leap up in the air with joy from a song, but for them to paint images in your mind the way Florence does- it’s a massive talent to have. The imagery she creates on this song (and on the record in general) is much more grander and mysterious than on Lungs. It’s just a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to a loved one, and shows the comfort you can have in death knowing that the person is okay on the other side.

Shake It Out: I’m still unsure about how I feel about this song. I feel I should love it, but I don’t know. I mean, I love every track but I guess if I had to pick one I wasn’t a huge fan of- I’d pick this one. However, I love the lyrics. Maybe it feels to anthemic to me. I don’t hate it or anything, but you know what I mean, right? No? Oh….okay then. I love that she does write bloody good songs when hung-over. I’ve only been hung-over once and I just wanted to sit in a dark room and cry. I adore the line, “And I am done with my graceless heart.” YES! Just fucking YES to that bloody wonderful line. It’s so bollocking (real word, shush) true. It’s unreal.

What The Water Gave Me: I love how the guitar sounds creeky throughout the voices and the HARP!!! Always the harp. I want to be able to play the harp, and do it by candle-light. Just because really. I have no reasons why. Anyway. This song is so motherfriggin’ euphoric. It makes you want to slap someone around out of utter joy. It just makes you want to stand in a lot of water..maybe a bath? A bath would be the safest option, I can’t swim so a bath would be my best bet. It makes you want to frolick about in some water and sing this song so loudly you turn blue and fall over. Or, you could be sensible and play it loudly in your home with no water around and just scream a lot. You can turn blue if you want to, that’s your decision. Spin yourself around a few times and sing “SO LAY ME DOWWWWWWWWN!” It’s just a bloody good song that makes your soul feel like all the bad vibes have gone away. Although, it’s about drowning isn’t it? I can’t swim and this song should give me the fear. Instead, it just makes me so happy. It does something to my head and heart. Like, I want to grab someone and shake them and sing this right in their face. I think this is why I don’t have many friends….

Never Let Me Go: For some reason, the chorus to this just makes me cry. A lot. It could be because I am ill and I want a hug. But this is so beautiful. Her voice is so powerful on this one, as usual. I adore this so much. “I’m not giving up, I’m just giving in.” Hello story of my life! This is quite an emotionallystrong song. You know, a lot of people assume giving up and/or giving in is a sign of weakness. I personally don’t think it is. It takes a hell of a lot of strength to give yourself over to something or even someone. If anything, it’s a quality that should be admired and not frowned upon. I think I’ll reserve a bit of emotional attachment for this song.

Breaking Down: I love how Florence sings on this one. It’s like a gentle whisper in your ear, like providing comfort to you if you feel like you are breaking down. I love how this song can really make you feel so creeped out, that you can sense some demon approaching you- causing you to feel like you are about to lose your shit. It makes you feel like you are in a whirlwind of torment with Florence. You can sense yourself just falling deeper and deeper. It’s such a beautiful song, and because it’s so beautiful; it will touch you in so many ways. You feel like she has made this song for YOU, so you feel less alone when you’re about to fall apart. If this was on Lungs I probably would’ve had a mild seizure!

Lover To Lover: Anytime I have spoken about this song, I have said how it has such a Motown feel to it. Mainly reference to I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. There is something so wonderfully soulful about this record. It just oozes despair and fury- but there is so much romanticism in the pain of all of this. If you can make feeling like this feel quite romantic, then well, that’s what you want. It takes the fear out of being alone or being a nervous wreck. I love how big her voice sounds. I love the quiet followed by the massive notes she holds. It feels like a massive euphoric moment- similar to the one in What The Water Gave Me. This is the song that you can lose all sensibilty in, you just have. Totally emerse yourself in this record. You don’t need to be saved, just lose yourself. It’s the only way.

No Light, No Light: Menacing, dark frightening- a stroke of utter genius. One of my many favourites on the records. The verses are absolutely incredible. If you’ve never had your heart broken, then you’re a lucky sod. If you’d like to experience that overwhelming and painful feeling- then listen to this song. This song will make you feel as if you have hurt the person that you loved with all that you possible had. You feel like you have to get to them somehow to make it all right, but then you see them- they look at you. They give you this look that just reeks of disgust; you’re dead to them. Nothing you do or say can salvage what you once had. Then you have to carry on without them. It kills you, or so you think. Everything is dark and bleak; no point in anything. It’s a horrible feeling to experience, however when you get through it- you become a cautious and careful person. You’re more aware and thoughtful with what you say and do. “Would you leave me, if I told you what I’ve done? Would you leave me, if I told you what I’ve become?” It’s hard to accept you can be loved when you feel so terrible inside, but it goes. Eventually. This song is so big, and it feels so personal- you feel like you are intruding as you listen to it. It’s such a beautiful song that will break your wee heart.

Seven Devils: THIS IS THE ONE!!!! This is my favourite off the record, seriously. It’s out of the world. I remember when I heard Blinding and it just left me feeling like, I was possessed by something. I don’t know. This is like the darker version of it. I love how it sounds like Florence is staring at you singing this through gritted teeth in the chorus to try and freak you out. This song is extremely dark, twisted and scary. It has a wonderful haunting and corrupting vibe to it. It makes you think of all the bad you have done, and devils are fast approaching you- take you away or to take you on. Who knows. It has such a big sound to it, but it doesn’t have that positive feel to it. It is so heavy. The whole album is very heay but this song is in a completely different level. It makes you feel all the good has been drained out of you, and what is now left of you are devilish qualities that you cannot control. You cannot do anything about it. The lyrics are so morbid. It feels like an Edgar Allan Poe tale;“I’ll be dead before the day is done.” So dark, and the way she sings it is so menacing and eerie. All these reasons and more are why it’s such a strong song.

Heartlines: What I adore about Heartlines is that it feels like a ritualistic chant all the way through. The drums in the intro and throughout just have this amazing tribal feel. Most of the tracks on Ceremonials feel very Church-like. Very grand, very delicate. Heartlines feels so so different. It is such a positive song, it’s like the Ceremonials version of Dog Days- that massive build up that makes you believe that you’re going to be alright. Heartlines is a lifeline. Seriously. It’s like a reassurance that everything is going to be alright. If you feel like shit, play this motherfriggin’ song. It will make you feel like you can take anything and anyone on. You feel like Florence is right next to you guiding you through all your troubles making sure you get to the place you need to be. It makes you want to throw your limbs about in a mental fashion. It makes you want to do some kind of tribal/stomping dance routine around a camp fire. It is such a big song that oozes positive vibes. I just love it so much. You just want to yell “JUST KEEP FOLLOWING THE HEARTLINES ON YOUR HAND!!!!” with Flo all the way through. Just have that line echoe in your head every time you face something challenging, and you’ll be okay.

Spectrum: There are so many things that I love about Florence. One being she can make a loving subject seem really dark and demonic. I adore the way she sings, “Say my name” on this track. It is so spooky in a way. It also feels like she is trying to possess you. Is that a bad thing? Oh hell no it isn’t. It’s like, she’s showing you that side of love and relationships that’s very rarely expressed in songs. Like, you’ll take each other over in a way that nothing has done before. Dragging up bodies? Awesome. I don’t know, maybe I’ve got it all wrong. I probably have- but it’s just my take on it. There’s a lot of possession creeping around in this track and it’s just brilliant.

All This And Heaven Too: This track, lyrically shows how amazing Flo is. She’s a poet, I will keep saying it until someone actually listens to me. SHE’S A POET. The lyrics to this song are beautiful. It’s just a gorgeous song that makes you feel less alone with not understanding things around you. Life, as a rule, can be quite a confusing thing and daunting at times. I guess that is why so many of us use music to get through- or why so many of use various forms of art to help others understand. The most interesting people are those who are creative with their minds- film makers, musicians, writers. Creative people make the world a better place. We all play a part. All This And Heaven Too is just a magnificent song. My favourite part is this:“Words, poor language. Doesn’t deserve such treatment. And all my stumbling phases never amounted, to anything worth this feeling.” Sometimes words aren’t enough, sometimes they cannot explain anything at all.

Leave My Body: THIS ONE!!! Holy hell. This is THE ONE. I’ve said that already but shush. I like to declare my love a lot, but only if I mean it. Leave My Body gives me the same feeling as Seven Devils. It has that exquisite deviant vibe surrounding it. It’s so harsh and cruel- I love how she makes going mental within to be extremely romantic. It’s such a gripping song. You don’t want it to let you go, you can’t let it happen. As it drags you down, whatever it is- you’ll have this song ringing in your ears. The drums- OH MY LORD! The drums are amazing. It’s amazing how such a dark song can have such a magical and almost religious feel to it. By religious, I mean it has that wonderful Gospel feel to it. You could imagine it being sung in a Church, if it was religious of course. It’s just such a stunning song. If this doesn’t make you lose your mind, then you’ve gone about listening to this record the wrong way. It again, feels like a outer body experience. When you listen to it- you really do feel like you are leaving your body. But where are you going? Are you still there? Don’t let it end. “And I don’t want your heart it leaves me cold.” Why take another’s heart when it will more than likely harm you? This is the perfect end to the album, but it leaves you wanting more. Is album number 3 ready? 😉

So there you have it. Me stupidly pouring out well over 2000 words about this year’s best album and one of the most highly anticipated releases. If you don’t buy it, you are well and truly missing out on a record that will probably change a lot of things for you. If you want your soul to be saved ,i you want to just feel something, if you want to be in some kind of euphoric state and constantly feeling like you are in a trance because you have been possessed in a pleasurable way by a piece of music; then trust me, you need Ceremonials. Thing is, you probably know this and me writing this article is probably the daftest thing I’ve done.