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Bands to Watch #39: Florence and the Machine

I have been a fan of Florence and the Machine for quite a considerable amount of time now. Thing is, I didn’t actually realise it up until a few weeks ago. Basically, I kept hearing this super catchy tune on the tube about kisses and fists. Intriguing, I know. Anyhow, the other day, I decided to actually look into this track. I discovered the artist was indeed Miss. Florence (and her Machine).

Upon discovering the Machine, I realised this was not actually the first time I’d encountered Florence (who cites Celine Dion and Eva Cassidy as just two of her influences). Infact, Florence first caught my attention many months ago over at MySpace collaborating with her mate, Lightspeed Champion, on some retro Green Day covers. While Dev went on to achieve a considerable amount of success with his debut album, Falling Off the Lavender Bridge, Florence remained contrastingly unfamiliar.

Now, however, it would appear that the London lass is getting quite a name for herself thanks to her contagious indie folk blues – or ‘grindcore’ as her MySpace chooses to label it. Whatever the genre, one thing for sure is that Florence – who this week gained a place on NME’s Cool List – is tipped for big things in the coming months. She already has appearances at Reading, Glastonbury and Austin fest, SXSW, under her (presumably floral vintage) belt. Heck, she even played a gig in Lancaster library the other day!

Combining such antics with her heartfelt, soulful sounds, surely means Florence is imminently set to rival our current (and rather tedious) Lily, Kate and Amys.

Above: Kiss with a Fist video

If you liked that, why not pre-order Florence and the Machines’ upcoming single, Dog Days are Over from Moshi Moshi records.