Keeping a steady pace of a new album every three years, Elbow's last break seems to have aired out some stuffiness from the last couple of releases.
While it's pleasing Guy Garvey has avoided engaging his full Bono (as was the danger on the Bush-bashing Leaders Of The Free World), here Elbow are sticking their heads in the sand altogether. Melodies twinkle and shuffle day-dreamily enough in a time when a little carefree escapism is most welcome. It would be nice if something more evidently transformative or urgent was at play but Little Fictions is Elbow in cosy, cardigan mode.
