Mumford & Sons review, Prizefighter – Choosing vulnerability over cynicism

“Hey! Did you call? Did you fall? Do you request someone?” an impassioned Marcus Mumford asks connected his band’s irresistible caller azygous “Banjo Song”. Earthy and earnest arsenic ever, his urgent questions travel bolstered by nan earthy strum of nan instrumentality for which nan set were erstwhile some celebrated and mocked successful adjacent measure. After a mates of rockier albums (2015’s Delta and 2018’s Wilder Mind), nan set returned to a rootsier sound connected 2025’s Rushmere. Now, conscionable 9 months later, their sixth album, Prizefighter, sees them doubling down connected their original USP pinch glorious gusto. What’s more, they’ve brought a full unit of A-list impermanent stars on for nan ride, pinch nan likes of Gracie Abrams, Hozier, Chris Stapleton and Gigi Perez swelling nan singalong to a stadium-sized lock-in.

It’s astonishing that Mumford & Sons haven’t included much featured artists connected their records; nan nu-folk activity of nan 2010s seemed almost arsenic communal-cliquey arsenic California’s Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter circle of nan Sixties and Seventies. Mumford & Sons could beryllium recovered playing gigs astatine nan mini (now defunct) Bosun’s Locker beneath a pasty shop successful Fulham, on pinch acts specified arsenic Noah and nan Whale, Laura Marling, Emmy nan Great, Johnny Flynn, and King Charles. It was a lax venue wherever galore of nan underage musicians could guarantee getting served alcohol, clinking lukewarm pints betwixt strumming battered guitars. But yet that segment splintered arsenic Mumford & Sons deed nan world mainstream.

Last year, though, Mumford & Sons revived immoderate of this corporate spirit, bringing younger folk-pop stars Noah Kahan and Maggie Rogers on for a rerun of their original 2011 railroad circuit of nan US. It’s helped them prime up nan momentum you consciousness connected Prizefighter. Interviewed successful The Times earlier this year, 39-year-old Mumford said nan set had “found nan nosy again”, proven successful nan record’s bounty of hook-filled tunes.

Co-written and co-produced pinch welcoming, woody warmth by The National’s Aaron Dessner, nan grounds opens pinch nan steadying sentiment of “Here”. Mumford is joined by state prima Chris Stapleton (if ever a sound could person a bushy beard, it’s his) arsenic nan brace ain some their “trophies” and their “mistakes” together complete a stomped beat, augmented pinch a liquid bluesy electrical solo. Irish singer-songwriter Hozier hangs retired connected “Rubber Man”, astir nan reassurance of shared memories, while nan clock-tick beat of “Icarus” finds Mumford’s rough-grained vocal bolstered by nan rich | committedness of 26-year-old indie creator Gigi Perez. Gracie Abrams’s ray graze of a croon skates elegantly complete nan sweet, piano-driven “Badlands”.

Guest-free highlights see nan delicately plucked “Alleycat”, resonant “Stay” and “Conversations pinch My Son”, which skips on its gorgeous acoustic guitar solo while Mumford’s lyrics promise enduring emotion and support. Though location person been times erstwhile critics person tired of Mumford & Son’s big, fraternal hug schtick, there’s nary doubting their sincerity. And successful these troubled times, it feels for illustration a fool’s luxury to take cynicism complete their tuneful vulnerability and endorsement of agreed humanity. As Mumford reminds america connected “Banjo Song”, you tin beryllium “a mess” yourself and still beryllium worthy leaning on.