Mumford & Sons Babel (10th Anniversary) 180g LP (Cream Vinyl)

A limited edition pressing of Mumford and Son's much-loved album Babel, in celebration of its 10th anniversary. The album features hit singles "I Will Wait" and "Lover of the Light," and this anniversary edition features alternate artwork and is pressed on 180g cream colored vinyl.

When Mumford & Sons entered the studio to commence work on their second album in August 2011, they never envisioned it would be to follow up a debut record that had connected with so many music lovers from all different corners of the globe, and all the roads in-between.

How Mumford & Sons came to be is something that even the very four members struggle to trace. "It sort of just happened," Marcus Mumford has often mused to journalists.

Ben Lovett and Marcus were already working on songs together from their school days, but those songs didn't realise their full potential until Winston Marshall (armed with a banjo and dobro), and Ted Dwane (double bass, but with a penchant for being a multi-instrumental marvel) had learnt and lived those songs, given them new arrangements, and injected them with a real 'band' dynamic. Even then they were reticent to make it 'official.' The name Mumford & Sons was eventually chosen as it suggested a wholesome, family business. It suited the relationships that had grown within the band. They were brothers in all but blood relation, and they very quickly became inseparable.

More than excited to release Babel into the world, they had started writing new songs well before they got into the studio to record. At first, they peeled themselves off the road quite reluctantly. They loved playing live, obviously, but it had also become an important part of their creative process, they had been writing and rehearsing in soundchecks, and sort of 'road testing' new songs on their very gracious audiences. But then they fell in love with recording again. The album started to come together, and with the help of Markus Dravs (Coldplay, Arcade Fire) once more (and engineer Robin Baynton), they started to relish the challenge of making this album. As a band, they'd never been closer or more collaborative, all working to their strengths. And so they felt that this record is a natural progression that they're proud of.

The sophomore LP dials Mumford's volume knob several distinct notches past the place it's sat for the last three years... The percussion remains a low throb below the earnest string-based songwriting. The guitars are richer and more vivid. The banjo continues its pluck into pop culture's curious eye. The bombast is clearer. Babel is not the wheel reinvented; it's the wheel in HD.

Babel steps up Mumford & Sons' game without changing it too much. It feels shinier, punchier, more arena-scale than the debut, with the band hollering, hooting, plucking and strumming like Olympian street buskers... The fact that these guys are able to do big rock catharsis with humble tools is part of the thrill.

Mumford & Sons' sophomore release is epic for a number of reasons: the gripping emotion, vulnerability, dark moments, the banjo – all elements for a great musical composition. And then there is Marcus Mumford's voice. The songs on Babel are anchored by his powerful tone, which is beautifully gritty and gravely, and downright commanding. He's got one of the best voices of our time.