★★★★
Some months ago, Mumford & Sons embarked upon a sold-out tour of South Africa.
During their time there, they immersed themselves in the culture, bonded with musicians, and learned a thing or two about how South Africans make music. Their subsequent EP Johannesburg is their most inspired and unconventional effort yet.
Teaming up with South African musical greats Baaba Maal, Beatenberg and The Very Best may have been one of the finest creative decisions the band has ever made. The use of native tongues and stampeding beats has brought a rawness and fresh energy to the Mumford catalogue, one that can be very easy for bands to lose this far into their career.
Some of Johannesburg’s most powerful moments arrive when all that can be heard is foreign chanting and strong African beats. The fusion of Marcus Mumford’s signature smooth and milky vocals with those of the South African locals is seamless and magical, adding an amazing flavour to the collection. In fact, should Mumford ever be in the market for more Sons, we know the perfect candidates.
With ethereal sounds that conjure an image of wide-open plains and warm summer nights, Johannesburg is the stuff of folk music dreams.
Johannesburg byMumford & Sonsis out now thorugh Dew Process/Universal.
