It'll come as no surprise that an EP called
Johannesburg carries a considerable South African undercurrent to its rhythms and productions. It's a musical element heretofore unheard of in
Mumford & Sons' music but it's not an uncomfortable fit, even if
Johannesburg often brings to mind both Paul Simon's pioneering
Graceland and, especially, the light lilt of
Vampire Weekend. Unlike Simon, who built songs upon existing rhythms, Mumford & Sons collaborate with
Baaba Maal, Beatenberg, and
the Very Best, and this give and take brings the group closer to the globally minded urban pop of Vampire Weekend: despite all the African inflections, it sounds recognizably Mumford & Sons. Tellingly, it feels like a close cousin to the arena-filling moodiness of
Wilder Mind but the songwriting is tighter and livelier and the band doesn't amble: Mumford & Sons proceed with intention, making this into a listen that's not only more compelling than their 2015 full-length, but one that suggests ways they could grow.
![Title: Chronovision [Bonus Track]](https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0810599020705_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg)
![Title: Dark Eyes [Bonus Track]](https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0810599020002_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg)
