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There's about a week or so to go until Florence's first album, Lungs, is released in the UK. Interestingly, there are already reviews on Amazon.co.uk - ahead of release. Some pretty decent albums don't even get reviews months after release.

On the one hand, perhaps Florence has been comprehensively hyped - especially in the UK. On the other, there's something magnetically appealing about her work. It's all written on a grand scale - big vocal deliveries, fascinatingly eccentric lyrics and song ideas, strong visual presentation. Not a person standing impassively with a microphone, but someone hurling her entire self at you through the microphone.

At another level, there's something extraordinarily - what's the word? - odd about Florence. The term "odd" will do. You could come up with a number of similar adjectives, but the crux of the matter is this: here's a person who a great many members of the general public will take to their hearts. That's my prediction. By the end of 2009, Florence Welch will be a big star. And few people will really understand why.

Funny, I thought F&tM was a goth band or something, but she definately has her very own crisp singer-songwriter style. Man, her voice reminds me of someone, but who? It's slightly chilly, shouty, but very interesting.
Nice video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0ZPTFfpO40

DIdn't know she was a hype! Apparently a very UK thing, apart from you Geoff and Skapie perhaps, I never heard of her!

If you want to see "raw" Florence at her best, try this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOMYlSpmLPw. This event took place some time before the hype began, I think. You get a person standing in front of a microphone, joking about the song she's written, and then beating a drum that's standing on the floor nearby, and you think "Oh no". But then she begins to sing ...

And then there's "Bird Song", which didn't make it to the main album but is on the bonus CD if you buy the special version. This early version (as above) is barking mad but out of this world: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzynmMspI5Q. Terrible distorted sound, but ...

I only know this lady because of Geoffs repeated posts about her. Mind you, for the better part I'm still, as Geoff so delicately put it, listening to metal

edit: that is one awesome performance, Octo! Thanks for sharing.

I've added a bit, with more to come.

I'll check this out when my bloomin' broadband starts working at home again. It's only been three days without internet at home and already I feel like crying.

I trust you've tried restarting the hub. Ours sometimes needs to be unplugged and restarted.

Same for ours. It might just be a general flaw?

Seen her video for Drumming song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwsg3Czyl78

New ginger goddess for the win?
Never thought she would be influenced by Lady Gaga's way of showing off shiny underpants though.

Well, yes. My view on that particular video is that Flo's legs are "marginal". There's something uncannily disproportionate and almost ungainly about her in some shots. I think the wrap right over the shoulders and whatever she's wearing underneath doesn't help. What I'm trying to say is that the video puts her on the cusp between "Hmm" (sound of appreciation) and "Hmm" (put 'em away). He-he.