Florence and the Machine's 'Ceremonials'

Album / CD art cover titled "Ceremonials "by Florence +... — Album / CD art cover titled "Ceremonials "by Florence + the Machine Credit: Handout/

By GLENN GAMBOAglenn.gamboa@newsday.comOctober 28, 2011

While Florence and the Machine's debut "Lungs" was an unpredictable outing, the follow-up "Ceremonials" (Universal Republic) is far more focused. Florence Welch still scales Kate Bush-ian heights of drama ("No Light, No Light" and "Leave My Body") and howls like the second coming of Annie Lennox ("Lover to Lover"), but a bit of the loopy "Dog Days Are Over" fun has slipped away, replaced with the lovely but slightly more restrained "All This and Heaven Too." Nevertheless, "Ceremonials" offers more insights into Florence's sweet brand of British soul.