Dance Fever

by Florence + the Machine

Overview

Just as nature blossoms to life during springtime, so do Florence + the Machine with their triumphant fifth album, Dance Fever. This vernal revival is patient to reveal its full scope, but once these songs settle in, it's a transformative journey that's spiritually on par with 2009's Lungs and 2015's How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful in emotional depth and uplifting power. At first glance of the title (and eyeing producers Jack Antonoff, Glass Animals' Dave Bayley, and Kid Harpoon), fans might expect a disco-kissed, dancefloor romp, but Dance Fever is more pure and pastoral in its interpretation of the titular movement: a primal act of ecstasy that takes inspiration from the choreomania phenomenon, where groups of people burst into dance frenzies to the point of exhaustion or injury. With that in mind, Florence Welch and company invite listeners to their sacred ceremony to find healing, empowerment, and catharsis through song and physical response ("Heaven Is Here" could conjure an entire army of spirits). The most immediate expressions come with "Free" and "My Love." The former track is an urgent, synths-and-guitar pop thrill that sounds like Antonoff's band Bleachers taking on an early-aughts Bloc Party or Strokes number, while the latter is one of the band's best singles, the closest this album comes to nailing the expected level of mainstream "dance" energy with its shimmering production, heaving beat, and festival-sized chorus. "Choreomania" percolates to life with Welch's confessional spoken word delivery and a sparse, skittering beat, slowly building to an explosive, euphoric end packed with strings, pounding percussion, and joyous cries of "I just keep spinning and I dance myself to death." "Cassandra" is similarly rapturous, swelling with church organs and Welch's trilling vocals that recalls the dramatics of Ceremonials. The shiver-inducing "Daffodil" follows a similar route, a showstopping highlight that sways and stomps with cinematic might, clattering to a close with a cacophony of drums and heaving breaths. Meanwhile, the bold "King," the threatening harps-and-horns "Girls Against God," and the seething "Dream Girl Evil" empower with some of the strongest lyrics and personal insight on the album. While this effort may not be Welch's surprise transformation into a full-on pop diva, Dance Fever is a generous offering to the goddesses of dance and restorative energy. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	05/13/2022
Label:	Polydor / Republic
UPC:	0602438936472
Rank:	5713

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Florence + the Machine   Primary Artist
Thomas Bartlett   Accordion,Keyboards,Percussion,Synthesizer,Drums,Piano
David Bayley   Organ,Piano,Guitar,Strings,Keyboards,Bells,Drums,Mellotron,Percussion,Synthesizer,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Acoustic)
Kid Harpoon   Guitar,Bass,Drums,Piano,Percussion
Rick Koster   Violin
Evan Smith   Saxophone,Synthesizer,Saxophone,Synthesizer
Marianne Haynes   Violin
Eric Byers   Cello
Joe Aukland   Trumpet
Bobby Hawk   Violin
Maggie Rogers   Vocals (Background)
Mikey Freedom Hart   Piano,Viola,Celeste,Falsetto,Falssetist,Pedal Steel,Guitar (Acoustic)
Nicky Sweeney   Violin
Ian Thomas   Drums
Cyrus Bayandor   Bass
Jack Antonoff   Organ,Piano,Percussion,Synthesizer,Choir/Chorus,Slide Guitar,Farfisa Organ,Tubular Bells,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String Acoustic),Bass,Juno,Bells,Drums,Chimes,Mellotron,Wurlitzer
Joe Auckland   Trumpet
Richard George   Violin
Chris Worsey   Cello
Aku Orraca-Tetteh   Vocals (Background)
Ian Burdge   Cello
Lucy Wilkins   Violin
Gillon Cameron   Violin
Kate Robinson   Violin
Julia Singleton   Violin
Florence Welch   Drums,Piano,Vocals,Sampling,Percussion,Spoken Word,Guitar (Acoustic)
Mark Brown   Saxophone
Tom Moth   Harp
Rob Ackroyd   Guitar
Paul Burton   Trombone
Everton Nelson   Violin
Steve Pearce   Bass
Natalia Bonner   Violin
Leo Abrahams   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Sally Herbert   Strings,Conductor

Technical Credits

Fraser Stannage   Producer
Dustin Stefansic   Lighting Design
Christopher Greenaway   Assistant Photographer
Benjamin Tietge   Assistant Photographer
Amy Sergeant   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Allegra Amati   Producer
Thomas Bartlett   Composer,Producer,Additional Production
David Bayley   Composer,Producer,Programming,Instrumentation,Musical Producer
Kid Harpoon   Composer,Producer,Musical Producer
Autumn de Wilde   Creative Director,Photography
Duncan Fuller   Assistant Engineer
Evan Smith   Engineer,Engineer
Laura Sisk   Mixing,Engineer
Jeremy Hatcher   Engineer
Jonny Breakwell   Engineer
Mikey Freedom Hart   Engineer
David Hart   Engineer
Billy Halliday   Engineer,Producer,Vocal Engineer
Ben Loveland   Mixing,Assistant,Assistant Engineer
John Rooney   Assistant Engineer
Bryce Bordone   Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Claude Vause   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Evie Clark-Yospa   Assistant Engineer
Jon Gautier   Engineer
Thunderwing   Art Direction,Design
Thomasina Smith   Paintings
Stella Fox   Production Design
June Bhongjan   Photo Editing
Lauren Marquez   Assistant Engineer
James Pinfield-Wells   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Megan Searl   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Jack Antonoff   Programming,Harp Arrangement,Additional Production,Mixing,Composer,Producer
James Osterberg   Composer
Matty Green   Assistant Engineer
Matt Wiggins   Mixing
Florence Welch   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Harp Arrangement
Tom Moth   Arranger,Harp Arrangement
Rob Ackroyd   Composer
Dave Snyder   Assistant Engineer
Matt Hall   Assistant Engineer
Serban Ghenea   Mixing
Billie Holiday   Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Chris Gehringer   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Will Quinnell   Mastering Engineer
Patrick Dillett   Engineer
James Williamson   Composer
Sally Herbert   Arranger,Brass Arrangement,String Arrangements
John Hanes   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
David Wrench   Mixing
Brad Madix   Engineer