Why thank you, host James Corden, for namechecking this very publication as way of introducing Florence + The Machine (“TIME magazine recently ranked her number 51 in the list of the most influential people in the world right now”). It was clearly what Florence Welch needed to hear, because she nailed “No Light No Light.” La Welch has some serious stage presence, which might make the more seasoned listener hark back to Ye Olde Brits and recall how Kate Bush used to do this kind of thing with her eyes closed. When Welch held that note towards the end of the song and emerged from darkness into a perfectly illuminated cage of lights (of sorts), we wondered if the moment could possibly be topped. Gulp. We’re only two performances in.
Grade: A