Florence + The Machine: An Almighty Sound

by Zoë Howe

This intriguing book tells the story of this very unique pop/rock/soul artist starting with her upbringing in South London to her thrilling rise to international fame as a singer and also a highly individual fashion icon. The author explores her collaborations and working relationships with Chanel Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld, her manager Mairead Nash and her friend Isabella Summers who to this day forms part of ‘the machine’. The book details how her sense of style has captured the imaginations of fans and fashion editors the world over. Here are the stories behind the glittering award ceremonies, TV appearances and international tours.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, Biography

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2012

About the author

Also writes as Zoë Street Howe

Reviews

[Szafira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nieautoryzowana książka napisana na podstawie wywiadów i artykułów prasowych i wpisów na Tumblrze. Mnóstwo błędów rzeczowych i zbędnych detali, chociażby wspominanie co miała na sobie Florence przy każdej okazji. Sama książka (a może polskie tłumaczenie?) ma prosty, "gimbusiarski" język, przez co ciężko się czyta. Inną sprawą jest to, że książka się zestarzała: obejmuje ona tylko dwa pierwsze albumy F+TM kiedy artystka była nieokrzesana, pijana/skacowana, paradowała po scenie w niebotycznych szpilkach i skakała ze sceny w tłum (ostatni raz tak zrobiła chyba w 2011?). Taki opis w ogóle nie pasuje do osoby jaką jest teraz, można mieć wrażenie, że Welch z książki i Welch po 5 albumach to dwie różne osoby.

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't call myself a fan of this artist because I didn't follow her career nor her personal life but I've always liked her music. There's something about her sound; something powerful, mystical and mesmerizing that I find exceptional and I also liked the fact she seemed to me like a better role model than all those nearly naked starletts ;p

So knowing next to nothing about Florence Welsh, I'm probably not the best to tell you if the real fans learnt something they didn't already know if they read this biography but I think probably not because a lot of it is, as expected, a retell of Florence's beginning, her debut in the music industry and the steps before becoming a famous singer and all the in between, like which people helped her get there, the frienship she developed with other famous people. And since it's written by someone else (who sounded like a Florence + The Machine's fan by the way), there's also a lot of quotes by the artist coming from different sources.

I think I prefer autobiography to biography and it probably explain why I didn't enjoy this book more. And there's also one detail that keep coming back in the narrative that annoyed me. This constant comparing of Florence with an other female British singer who made herself known at the same time. The way she talked about the other singer made me felt that she had something against her, like she didn't approve of her career or had a score to settle with her and it really annoyed me.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a true fan of Florence, I was overjoyed to find this in my local Op-Shop. I was, however, a little disappointed.

Howe writes in a disjointed manner, skipping up and down the timeline as she attempts to weave together snippets of interviews with recount. This is probably the biggest problem I had with the book, as I found most of the information she included quite interesting. There were times, however, when I found there to be a lot of name dropping (and I am hopeless with celebrities) that was unnecessary.

I did enjoy this, but I think you have to be a huge Florence fan to do so as the quality of the writing is nothing to sing praises about.

[Siân Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It read as if it was made for 12 yr olds and tbf at time of gifting I was so can’t complain tooo much. Overall wasn’t really that invested even though I love this woman more than life itself? So the actual biography is 1.5 ⭐️ the fact it’s about Flo herself doubles the score bc no one can tell me how to rate things properly

[Rebecca Macaskill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a HUGE fan of Florence and the Machine (huge being a massive understatement here) so when a new Florence and the machine album was announced I decided to pick this book up.

I really enjoyed reading this book because I love the band so much, and reading about Florence and finding out more about the people behind the music was just fascinating to me. I wasn’t expecting the writing to be anything groundbreaking, but nonetheless I enjoyed reading about stories and anecdotes from Florence and her machine. If it was an actual autobiography it may have been a better read, because a few times I was wishing to hear directly from Florence’s perspective. Particularly in parts when the authors touched upon Florence’s teenage angst and her anxiety before recording her second album. I feel like many subjects were just covered on a surface level, and I was left wanting more! However, I’m a super fan, so no wonder I’m wanting to know more!

[Matt]

adored the insite

[Michael Frazier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I associate Florence and her Machine with the absolute darkest period in my life. But that's okay. Her music helped guide me through the worst days imaginable. She's all I listened to for two weeks after I lost my father in 2012, just four months after seeing her live for the first time at Red Rocks. I credit some of her songs to pulling me off the floor and, in a sense, saving my life. Florence Welch, while incredibly eccentric, is a genuinely wonderful human being that I would love to have the pleasure of meeting some day.

The writing left a lot to be desired. I never want to hear the phrase "not least because" ever again. (Extended review coming soon).

[Waseem Butt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First picked up this book after spotting it cheap on Amazon. Fast forward a few months and shortly after going to see her in concert in London at the O2 arena I then spotted it again on my bookshelf. Though it was written around 10 years ago it gives a great insight into how she became the artist that she is. The story is fascinating (notwithstanding the early teenage drinking habit she acquired) and then once she made the breakthrough shows that there really is such a thing as the rock and roll lifestyle…

[Joshua McArthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a relentless fan of Florence + The Machine, this book was perfect. Everything I wanted to know was answered. It's such a great story of her success and I highly recommend it to any fan.

Well done Zoe, although I must admit I'm a little jealous I didn't think to do this first! :)

[Ellen Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so this book made me feel like a cliché, I obviously am in love with Florence Welch. I knew that most of the book was written from interviews the author didn't directly do, but I really got to see what life has been like so far for one of my role models.

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

My baby <3

[Miriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zoe Howe isn't a great writer, but I LOVE Florence so I was and still am willing to read almost anything about her, regardless of the author.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essential read for Florence fans, though the writing lets it down a little bit.

[Nikusha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Úžasné <3