Londoner Florence Welch and her cast of collaborators channel the gothic pop of fellow UK eccentrics Kate Bush and Annie Lennox.
Florence and the Machine’s debut album, Lungs, nails an impressive range of styles. Songs like “Girl With One Eye” showcase a Fiona Apple-esque soul-inspired swagger, while “Kiss With a Fist” finds Welch tearing through a blues-rock number that wouldn’t be out of place in a White Stripes set.
Florence and the Machine also share a pedigree with other British indie acts that have made waves in recent years, thanks to in-studio assistance from producers who have worked with Bloc Party, Arctic Monkeys, and Pulp. Lungs has already gone gold in the UK, and is now available to download on the US side of the pond.
Check out the band’s videos, visit its official website, download album highlight “Cosmic Love,” and buy
Lungs online.
– Wolcott Katzenbach