(Single from album, “Babel”)
Mumford & Sons confuse me; their audience is just full of people who think they're indie because they like a band with a banjo in. On the other hand, what they do is difficult to comprehend; is it masterful, or is it just a relatively good folk band with a talented banjo player? I'm unsure - but either way, its the bloody banjo causing trouble every time...
Maybe people just, simply, like the band. From what I've heard, I think I do. "I Will Wait" was my first real experience of the sound, and, more specifically, it was the live version in the music video that I initially watched. I was very impressed with their stage presence, the intense and intimate relationship with the audience, and most of all, the professionalism of their delivery. They played like aged, veteran musicians despite the brevity of their career so far, spanning a mere 5 years.
The song, on live and studio cuts, explodes into existence as a bombastic, country/folk wall of sound, like Dolly Parton playing Radiohead. The lyrics are not bad, very pop in their incredibly wide interpretation and application to the specific listener, but not at all bad. It doesn't take much, however, to know and understand that the big 'hubbub' with Mumford & Sons is the sound; the keyboards are very atmospheric and surrounding, the guitars are fast paced and competent, the vocals are strangled and emotional (more so live), and the bass does its job, hidden away underneath the other layers. And that banjo? That bloody banjo? Well, its very good. And, chart-wise, it is the thing giving this band a leg-up over others. No matter how brainless and unconditional your love is for him, Labrinth will never use a banjo will he? So, at risk of sounding like a muso simpleton, yes, the banjo is partially doing it for me...
The other sounds, like mandolin and dobro guitar, are there underneath, which brings me to my next point. The production values are very high, and very good. This is a very polished sound - and that's great on any song, but especially on this one with its 500 tiers of noise.
It's also worth establishing that the live performance version is far superior, and there's something about the video, probably the way the guys stand in a line, together, that really adds to the feel of the whole thing. I love it.
So after all that, and one fairly epic and atmospheric track later, why on earth has the album, "Babel", drawn so much heavy fire from listeners? Critics have done their best to defend the new output, but fans especially, have been merciless in their attacking the 'new sound' as they call it. What confuses me is that I've only heard snippets of Mumford & Sons before now, and the direction all sounds the same to me. It could be that I've only just noticed band because they've sold out and caught my attention? I don't know. Presumably he band have changed something a bit, but that's all really very unimportant; something should be judged on its individual merits and, frankly, if "Babel" is full of "I Will Wait"s as is advertised, then there should be nothing to complain about.
Mumford & Sons fans - calm down! Did you buy "Kid A" thinking it was "Ok Computer" 2, only then to almost kill yourself with frustration because Radiohead ripped you off and betrayed you so badly? No - you just ended up with New Order's clubby "Technique" after New Order's indie "Brotherhood" - something a little different, but not awful. Keep calm and carry on.
Everyone should buy this song. I'm looking for a 7" single at the moment, because I'm a bit hipster. That aside, watch the video and make up your mind, but the single and the album are on iTunes, and you should rush there now and pick up, at least, this track. Its substantially different, new and unique - and that, in apology to the previously stereotyped fans, is why you think you're indie - you aren't wrong...
★★★★
Versions of "I Will Wait"
Album/Single Version - 4:36