Florence and the Machine

The presence of a Cold War Kids' cover and some major hyping by both the NME and BBC made me ready to hate this EP before I'd even put it on. But despite praise from the two dullest forms of media in England, there is a shocking amount of originality and talent here. A more musically subversive version of her comrade Adele, from the "London female singer-songwriter explosion," Florence Welch uses the power of her voice in much the same way but highlights its character with a fusion of grimy vibes and delicate instrumentation. The aforementioned cover of "Hospital Beds" is a stark, brave and uplifting track, as is a version of Candi Staton and the Source's "You Got The Love," but it's her first two singles, "Dog Days Are Over" and "Kiss With A Fist," that set Florence apart from other artists on the Radio 1 overplayed list as one to watch with anticipation.