Having pushed the delicately uplifting envelope until it wilted under the pressure, Elbow have rediscovered their sense of adventure on an album that arrives endearingly weathered.
An electric organ dating back to the ’60s is peppered throughout songs adorned with Guy Garvey’s heart-rending storytelling and imbued with some of the jagged edges that retreated on the band’s last two albums, ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’ (2008) and ‘Build A Rocket Boys!’ (2011, review).
Despite the familiarly grand approach of lead single ‘New York Morning’ (video below), ‘Charge’ spits out bitter loneliness while ‘My Sad Captains’ may have displaced ‘Great Expectations’ as the most beautiful thing Elbow has ever done.
Compelling and absorbing, ‘The Take Off…’ is a rich and rewarding record.
8/10
Words: Gareth James
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‘New York Morning’
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