Album No.7 Starts here...

apparently writing has started... i see craig has tweeted about heading off to Scotland on a writing trip for it...

Good. I've been jonesing for new Elbow music.

no doubt you'll already have seen the news, but its set for release on the 3rd feb next year...

Five months is one hell of a long hype train

MagicalTrevor wrote:

Five months is one hell of a long hype train

i concur... it would be nice to think there was an EP in the pipeline before then but i doubt we'll hear anything new this side of christmas sadly. but who knows, guy dropped a single out the blue and the worker bee ep came out no where too, kinda.

If the new record is as good as the last, it'll be a treat ; got high hopes for it !

My Bury Vest wrote:

If the new record is as good as the last, it'll be a treat ; got high hopes for it !

i guess the period between 6 & 7 has been intersting from the pint of view of the fans, with them sort of doing their own things more prominentaly, jupp leaving and guy\mark's solo stuff there's a lot to add to the mix on this album, wondering what direction they're heading off in now...

The first single, "Magnificent (She Says)," was played on Jo Whiley's show today.

I've listened to it a few times now. It feels very much like a "single edit" as the ending seems quite abrupt, so now I'm curious if the album has a fuller version that runs more like 5 or 6 minutes. The song has a lot of moving parts -- a strident guitar riff, an epic string orchestra attack, Guy's vocal resting gently in the center of the wall of sound. I have no idea what it's about, but it's lovely.

agreed - lovely... magnificent even?

It's a good song...you can tell Jupp isn't the drummer though, and I think the drums are lacking a little.

Actually I take it back...gave it another listen this morning and the drums seemed to work better. Interestingly they seem to have left in a rim click at about 1:57...that would drive me mad!

The tracklisting:


1. Magnificent (She Says) (4:24)
2. Gentle Storm (3:39)
3. Trust the Sun (5:55)
4. All Disco (4:27)
5. Head for Supplies (3:56)
6. Firebrand & Angel (5:25)
7. K2 (5:18)
8. Montparnasse (2:40)
9. Little Fictions (8:26)
10. Kindling (4:15)

It's a delightful new track and interesting that it's the opener- Elbow's opening tracks are usually quite glacial, sparse and quietly emotional (Station Approach from LOTFW an exception) and Magnificent (She Says) is a slightly faster, bolder, more upbeat affair.

You can indeed tell Jupp is absent but the percussion is still decent and it's got a great rhythm.

Interesting track listing - some of the song titles are plain odd, but that piques my curiosity further. Very much liking the artwork and the album title.

A new Elbow song for Christmas! Thanks Santa!

Have played the single several times now, and listened in different settings - headphones, car, wireless sound system - and each time it sounds a little different. Or maybe I'm just focusing on different things each time. On headphones I'm hearing layers and catching details, in the car I'm just getting the basics with the melody front and center, and on my Sonos I'm getting the wide-angle, Cinemascope version, which sounds really full and lush and seamless.

Nothing about it I don't like, in any setting. Saw the comments from others about the drums, and I would be lying if I said I didn't hear anything different. I don't think there's anything wrong with the way they sound, but is there a certain touch that's missing? I do kinda think so. It's missing Jupp's fingerprints for sure. But it is still a very cohesive and nicely put-together track.

Gonna have to live with it for a wee bit longer before I decide how it ranks against past work, but first impressions are very positive. Just so nice to hear the boys - I truly have missed them! That new album cannot get here soon enough!

For me (and as a drummer) it's just a different style of playing that at first jarred a little, but on repeat listens I think it really works.