Florence + The Machine - Dance Fever: Live At Madison Square Garden

  by Nick Dent-Robinson

published: 7 / 1 / 2023

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Review

Post-pandemic, artists are touring again and audiences are rediscovering the joy of live music. Not surprisingly, live albums are also enjoying a resurgence. Florence + The Machine have released their first live album, 'Live at Madison Square Garden' which was recorded when Florence Welch was in New York during her US tour in September. It captures what Welch has described as her "sheer joy at singing in front of a crowd again." However that night in New York also preceded some bad luck for Welch. She was desperately keen to return to the stage in the UK but, as soon as she did so at London's O2 Arena she broke her foot. Though Welch hobbled on through the rest of that performance, the rest of her UK homecoming tour has had to be postponed until 2023. Florence Welch, now 36, is the niece of film director John Stockwell and of top columnist and writer Craig Brown. Born and raised in Camberwell, South London, Welch attended the independent Alleyn's School in Dulwich where she was recognised as having a talent for the performing arts. She has a great sense of drama and in her performances builds a feeling of grandeur with ornate arrangements and an impressive voice that can switch in moments from an operatic delivery to a real rock and roll roar. She can be very theatrical – but also knows how to nail a hypnotic groove and maintain it - which means her dance music-style songs are always powerful. The new record combines some tracks from Florence + The Machine's fifth album, which is also called 'Dance Fever' with old favourites such as 'Dog Days Are Over' which are always popular with live audiences. It is a rich mix with several outstanding tracks. 'Free' is all pulsating electronics while 'My Love' is a swirling anthem. Some of her ballads are very strong, too. 'Daffodil' is a nice twangy, country-blues number which UK audiences will enjoy when Florence + The Machine finally resume their tour next year. 'Dance Fever: Live At Madison Square Garden' is available now digitally and will be released as a two-disc vinyl LP in the Spring.

Track Listing:-

1 Heaven Is Here (Live At Madison Square Garden)
2 King (Live At Madison Square Garden)
3 Ship To Wreck (Live At Madison Square Garden)
4 Free (Live At Madison Square Garden)
5 Daffodil (Live At Madison Square Garden)
6 Dog Days Are Over (Live At Madison Square Garden)
7 Girls Against God (Live At Madison Square Garden)
8 Dream Girl Evil (Live At Madison Square Garden)
9 Cassandra (Live At Madison Square Garden)
10 Morning Elvis (Live At Madison Square Garden)
11 June (Live At Madison Square Garden)
12 Choreomania (Live At Madison Square Garden)
13 Kiss With A Fist (Live At Madison Square Garden)
14 Cosmic Love (Live At Madison Square Garden)
15 My Love (Live At Madison Square Garden)
16 Restraint (Live At Madison Square Garden)
17 The End Of Love (Live At Madison Square Garden)
18 Never Let Me Go (Live At Madison Square Garden)
19 Shake It Out (Live At Madison Square Garden)
20 Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) (Live At Madison Square Garden)

Band Links:-

https://florenceandthemachine.net/
https://www.facebook.com/florenceandth
https://twitter.com/florencemachine

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