I have a glorious Daily Download for you today; the second single from the forthcoming album from Florence and the Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. "St Jude" is a poignant ode to the patron of lost causes, and show us that after a two-year hiatus, Florence and the Machine is anything but. It’s a rather solemn track and quite a low key number for usually theatrical and energetic Florence Welsh, but it’s hauntingly beautiful nonetheless.
Florence has been rather vocal about what lies behind the lyrics in Album #3. After a manic few years creating and gigging around her first two albums, she took some time off, during which she had something of a nervous breakdown – a crash landing. Experiencing a spiralling loss of control, a dodgy relationship with drink and general chaos in her life, this is the most personal of records for Florence. The tracks are honest, and "St. Jude" is particularly so. In this one, the follow up to "What Kind of Man", Florence contemplates her failing relationship – a lost cause.
The video is suitably stunning, directed by Vincent Haycock, who also created the prequel for "What Kind of Man", we see Florence travel, in the rain, through their version of the Divine Comedy. Have a look for yourself. The song, like the album is big, but tender, a perfect Daily Download.
The band is playing Coachella this weekend, and have a pretty hectic summer ahead with appearances in Way out West in Sweden, Benicassim in Spain, South side in Germany before rounding it off with Electric Picnic in Stradbally. That alone is worth the price of the EP ticket. She is marvellous and mesmerising to watch, and is still one of my favourite gigs of all time when she appeared in the O2/3Arena/Point/Whatever a couple of years back.
The third single "Ship to Wreck" is out today, but I still can’t get past the repeat button on this one. Tune in this afternoon to hear this gorgeous track on the show!