Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Art is conflict. Every medium that falls underneath its wide umbrella must acknowledge a truth within itself that even if it sets out to calm the nerves of the afflicted, to offer it shelter and hope, then it must be at its heart in opposition to that which vexes it.
Once known that art is willing to fight, to battle for the mind and pin the insidious nature of external lethargy against the wall and place speakers on either side of its empty head, forced with love brushes into the beast’s hands and places the canvas before their eyes, and asks the musician to dig deep and perform laments and high spirited solos just to ensure the reaction is one of dizzy acceptance, of inducing Audio Vertigo on those without soul.
Bury’s finest, the indomitable Elbow, return with their brand-new album, and it is exactly as you would desire and expect from the award-winning group, and each song is so well crafted that it adds to the quiet determined fury of the soul that has been epitomised by the lyrical wonder that has been the mainstay of their 24 years stay at the top of the charts.
Once more it should be noted that in essence, in the application of music and delivery, of painting images with sound and depth from a palette overflowing with courage and understanding, the band are the natural successors to the introspection and observation shouldered by Peter Gabriel, and Audio Vertigo is no different.
Guy Garvey, Craig Potter, Mark Potter, Pete Turner, and guest additional support from Alex Reeves on drums and percussion, weave together experience with angst in adult mature form to produce an album that you want to place before the naysayers and demonstrably foolish and ask them to explain just how they can miss the victory of human emotion over their passionless lives.
Across tracks such as the superb opener, Things I’ve Been Telling Myself For Years, Balu, Knife Fight, Embers Of The Day, the incredible Good Blood Mexico City, and Poker Face, Elbow once more complete a journey of artistic conflict, a bloodless coup against the forces of blind mediocrity to whom are always waiting to subjugate any emotional presence in life.
Audio Vertigo is a signal of a peaceful warrior who knows that history is on their side and who is willing to fight in the knowledge that tranquility of the heart will return.
Ian D. Hall