Drawing from the same mythic and romantic American folk well that other indie-folksters have been drinking deeply from (think Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Avett Brothers), Mumford & Sons deliver a charmingly earnest and open debut with Sigh No More.

No, Mumford & Sons are not from Appalachia—they are from London—but the passionate and powerful performances on Sigh No More capture the energetic spirit of a glorious and fre-wheeling hootenanny. 

In addition to the obvious rustic influences of American folk and the driving melodies of indie-rock, the music is also informed by an Anglo-Celtic sound that recalls Fairport Convention and Pentangle. Of course being proper Brits, Mumford & Sons have a strong pop sensibility that mesh nicely with the banjos and dobros. Sure, they get their mountain folk on, but they are also not averse to pop orchestral flourishes. In a way this is really pop music that isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty. 

The passion and energy in the music lift simple lyrical phrases and musical passages that on their face seem cliché and trite to soaring and emotional revelations. This is honest and true music that, even during the ballads, make you feel good, make you want to sing. Standout songs like “The Cave,”  “Winter Winds,” and “Little Lion Man” manage to find hope and passion even within the themes of loss and fear. And I think we could all use a bit of hope and passion right about now… 

Mumford & Sons’ Sigh No More is highly recommended.

Mumford & Sons website (look for them live in the U.S. this spring and summer)