Album Review: Florence + The Machine MTV Unplugged (Live)

This MTV Unplugged performance, recorded at the Angel Orensanz Centre in New York City last December, features a full string orchestra and gospel choir supporting Welch on a collection of some of the best tracks from her two albums, Lungs and Ceremonials, plus a couple of extra surprises.

Opening with Only If For A Night is slightly nerve-wracking as Welch's vocals appear to be shaky and she doesn't quite hit every note at first, especially the high ones. Thankfully Drumming Song brings back the strong and powerful vocals that she's best known for. Welch truly owns this song and, with only simple acoustic guitar and strings as her companions, the dramatic builds that are achieved throughout the track are impressive.

From this point forward, Welch's voice commands attention and her vocal power and control is unmatched for a live performance. Gentle starters on Cosmic Love and Shake It Out allow an ethereal side to her voice that is delicate yet still solid to be heard and appreciated. No Light, No Light works well stripped right back and Dog Days Are Over gets a gospel twist in its delivery, with harmonious backing vocals that the crowd can't help clap along to. Covers of Otis Redding's Try A Little Tenderness and Jerry Leiber and Billy Ed Wheeler's Jackson show that Welch isn't a one-trick pony, fully embracing a country style on the latter alongside Queens Of The Stone Age front man Josh Homme to form a strong duet.

It would have been nice to have seen a little bit more variety from this set and some really different versions of the original tracks, but it's still another beautiful piece of work from Florence + The Machine.