With their fourth album The Seldom Seen Kid (2010), the British Elbow pushed through to the premier league of britpop. The group, from the nearby Manchester town of Bury, won the prestigious Mercury Price and exchanged the British clubs for arenas. Strengthened by successor Build A Rocket Boys, another record of hymn-like, sing-along qualities, the Netherlands was also conquered in 2011. On the
… sixth album The Take Off And Landing Of Everything the quintet slows down somewhat. In subdued songs such as Charge and New York Morning it is now mainly reflected that singer Guy Garvey can now rank among the best British singers. It's amazing how with his hoarse voice he always manages to connect emotion to strength and depth to sing-along. Furthermore, Elbow's sixth album sounds again to perfection in terms of songs, production and arrangements. Elbow has transcended Britpop and can count itself, with another successful album, in a class of its own. (MR)more
