Florence sounds like an alco-pop fuelled Chrissie Hynde while The Machine do a souped up version of the Pretenders on ‘Kiss With A Fist’.
Florence & The Machine from London debut with an uncomplicated rock record that stands out thanks to its classic simplicity. Singer Florence Welch romps through verse, chorus and a lusty ‘Whoh Ohh’ in the bridge while the band adds scratchy guitars and rockabilly drums.
On the flip, Florence covers last year’s Alternative Rock hit ‘Hospital Beds’ by US act Cold War Kids. Talk about putting the cat between the pigeons. The quiet, almost spiritual ‘Hospital Beds’ gets shredded to bits as Florence wails and swerves her way through the song in a fashion that would make Patti Smith proud.
Both songs are over in less than two and a half minutes. Quick and dirty. No fillers, just a couple of ideas.
I know, every time a new female singer has hit the stage in England in the last 12 months, the hype-machine goes into overdrive. Usually the debut is disappointingly mild-mannered pap. Not so in this case. You’ll either love it or hate it - particularly the odd cover of ‘Hospital Beds’.
I’ve listened to too many new singles that try and trample out fewer ideas over more playing time. So Florence & The Machine are definitely one to watch. Let’s hope they don’t self-implode.
Listen now to Florence & The Machine and download their debut single from iTunes.
This music really works best on an old-fashioned, disposable pop single. So, if you have a record player, get ‘Kiss With a Fist’ on 7″ Vinyl
We say: 
