• News

• All

Jan 24, 2019 By Christopher Roberts Florence and the Machine

Florence + the Machine (aka Florence Welch and backing band) released a new album, High As Hope, just last June via Republic. But now she has already shared two new songs, the big-sounding James Ford-produced “Moderation” and the more stripped-back Daniel Siskin-produced “Haunted House.” Florence + the Machine is headlining New York’s Governors Ball festival at the end of May. Listen to both songs below.

Previously Florence + the Machine shared a video for “Hunger” (which was one of our Songs of the Week) and performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, as well as performing it on the season finale of The Voice. The album features Kamasi Washington, Sampha, Tobias Jesso Jr, Kelsey Lu, and Jamie xx. Florence + the Machine shared a brand new song, “Sky Full of Song,” in April 2018 and it was released on limited edition 7-inch on Record Store Day (it was one of our Songs of the Week). It is also included on the album. She also performed “100 Years” on Later… with Jools Holland. Then she shared another song from the album, “Big God” (which was co-written by Jamie xx and features Kamasi Washington on saxophone), as well as a video for “Big God.” Then she performed “Hunger” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and performed “Hunger” (and was interviewed) on Late Night with Seth Meyers. She also covered Tori Amos’ “Cornflake Girl” for Spotify. Then she performed “Patricia” on The Late Late Show with James Corden and was interviewed on the show.

Welch wrote, co-produced, and recorded the majority of High As Hope by herself, cycling to her studio in Peckham every day. It’s the first time she’s co-produced a Florence + the Machine album. Then she finished the songs in Los Angeles with her friend and co-producer Emile Haynie and mixed the album in New York. Her daily views of the New York skyline inspired the album’s title, because, as a previous press release said, the NYC skyline is “often in stark contrast to the chaos of the wider world.”

Welch also released a book, Useless Magic, in July 2018 via Crown Publishing/Penguin. A previous press release described it as “a collection of lyrics, artwork and poetry offering a unique, personal insight into her creative process.”

Support Under the Radar on Patreon.