While for me in the previous two albums stood out a lot of moments and beautiful melodies, great instruments and of course tied the distinctive vocals of Marcus Mumford, ripples or, to my taste, Wilder Mind makes noise in many places too much to himself. It disturbs not necessarily the new musical direction of the band in the album, but rather the impression that the inspiration or the ease and joy, they were still present especially in Sigh no more, strenuous songwriting have given way in many places. Also in terms of texts and their interaction with the music. At no point, for example, will reach the beautiful simplicity and peace of a The Cave or the Power of I Will Wait or Babel. This is also the voice of M. Mumford, who unfortunately is no longer the emotional, provides strength and conviction, as they still did in the previous albums. For me, the impression can be the album has left on his weak points "have lost enthusiasm the band" best with the words describe.
Despite the above criticisms the album of course also offers positive properties. In songs like Tompkins Square Park or Just Smoke quite beautiful, new ideas come to the fore and the music invites, in part, with the already mentioned simplicity or with beautiful sounds to linger and listen in. The Mumford and Sons feeling can thus be created for me with the new instruments and new ideas. Unfortunately succeed the increasingly rare.