After the pastoral chamber pop vibes of 2021's
Flying Dream 1
,
Elbow
's tenth record feels practically aggressive. Leaner, toothier, and more energetic than either of its two predecessors,
Audio Vertigo
relies on a combination of funky textures, dark grooves, and even darker wit. As with any
release, subtlety is king; this is not a back-to-basics rock album, nor a wild reinvention, but an assured move within their own enigmatic wheelhouse that somehow sounds fresh. From the start, singer
Guy Garvey
is in top form, casually tossing out droll couplets ("here's to walking in every room like ascending for an Oscar, kissing hands and shaking babies, Blackpool rock imposter") on the mercurial opener "Things I've Been Telling Myself for Years." Throughout the focused 12-song set,
touch on rousing Afropop (the horn-driven "Lovers' Leap"), soulful art-rock ("Her to the Earth"), and mathy indie rock ("Good Blood Mexico City") with aplomb and a surprising amount of pluck for a band nearly three decades into their career. Prior to the album's release, touring and session drummer
Alex Reeves
was inducted into full-time band membership, a move which perhaps explains some of the heightened rhythmic heft and overall punchiness.
have never been short on craft, and their elegant arrangements have often carried them even when the material wasn't at its most exciting.
brings it all together, distilling their many attributes into one of their most exciting albums in years. ~ Timothy Monger