Mumford and Sons – ‘Sigh No More’

Mumford and Sons are a folk / indie quartet based in Londinium, their album, ‘Sigh No More’ made it to no.11 in the charts, none to shabby for a debut.

Their music is lovely combo of keyboard, organ bass, banjo, acoustic guitar and drums forming a straw munching, cider swilling medley accompanied by all the band chipping in on the vocal front. Led by Marcus Mumford’s introspective commentary the overall effect is really very appealing.

Making the road their rolling home is what has made Mumford & Sons who they are today. Word spread quickly, from navigating The Thames on a boat from Camden to Oxford, to selling out London’s ICA, by way of SXSW and an American tour, the following was building fast. The live show has since turned into a real spectacle, and a euphoric event.

The band is made up from Marcus on drums and guitar, Winston Marshall on banjo and dobro, Ben Lovett on keyboard and organ and Ted Dwane on bass. Having toured with The Maccabees recently and prior to their debut releases three EP’s, which coupled with their debut has album has attained critical acclaim, they’ve been long listed for the Beeb’s Sound of 2009 award.

The album begins with the powerful title track, Sigh No More, a statement of intent that references the romantic language of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, as the four men sing together in glorious unison: “Love it will not betray you, dismay or enslave you / It will set you free / Be more like the man you were made to be.” Bright amongst darkly reflective tracks such as Thistle & Weeds and ballads like White Blank Page, Winter Winds and Roll Away Your Stone show the band’s sprightlier side, the rollicking banjo of the former conjuring up stormy weather that “litters London with lonely hearts”; the latter a fabulous hoedown about a man unsuccessfully filling the hole in his soul.

As the album moves on, this fervour never dies. After a wild lashing out in the murderous fable of Dust Bowl Dance, After The Storm arrives, the only track Mumford and Sons wrote in the studio, away from the live stage they knew so well. It stands an incredibly moving final track to an incredibly moving album – the story of a man scared of what’s behind and what’s before, and creates a considered conclusion to the band’s epic debut album.

They are currently off touring Europe, but will be putting in an appearance at the The Forum, Kentish Town or to give it’s correct name the HMV Forum on this Saturday, the 24^th of October.

I somehow suspect these chaps will be making a few festival appearances come 2010. It just makes sense. Watch their Myspace for further information.