Mumford & Sons: Wilder Mind | Album Review

It had to happen – one of the most loathed commercially successful bands of the past five years have traded in stringed instruments and their ribald, cookie-cutter folk for guitars, synthesizers, mellotrons and drum machines.

From organic to generic, you might think, and while there's some of that weaving its way throughout Wilder Mind (hints of a U2/Coldplay hybrid?), there is also a much broader template being stretched out – if not to breaking point then certainly beyond parameters one would have thought possible (or, indeed, not even wanted) a few years ago.

With obvious New York influences (notably, opening track Tompkins Square Park, which pilfers from The Strokes' early days), this album will undoubtedly both lose and gain fans for Mumford & Sons.

Whatever next – hip-hop? Oh, hold on!