2009 is being powered by one woman and a machine.

Image courtesy of florenceandthemachine.net

If you have never heard of Florence + the Machine, where have you been?! They’ve taken the musical industry by storm over the past year. They have been thrust into the limelight with songs such as ‘Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)’ and ‘Drumming Song’ and with a fan base that is ever growing, they look set to remain there for some time to come.

With comparisons being draw to such artists as Kate Bush, Nick Cave and a little bit of Björk, F+TM are not simply a band for the younger music lovers but also for those who tend not to relate to chart music of today. Described as indie-pop, alternative-rock soul there is something for everyone. The wide appeal of their music is partly down to the mix of harps, piano, drums and choirs compared to the ultra modern digital sound we’ve all become so accustomed to hearing now. The music surrounds you and you become complete immersed in the beauty of what is flowing into your ears. On the bands bio Welch is quoted as saying:
“I want my music to sound like throwing yourself out of a tree or off a tall building, or as if you’re being sucked down into the ocean and you can’t breathe.”

There truly is an element of being overwhelmed by the music, a feeling reflected by Welch who describes her music as “something all-encompassing”. Welch will openly admit that she writes her best material when she is drunk or hung over as this is when the free and feral music flows easiest creating itself from memories and fragments in notebooks.“You’re lucid” Welch explains, “but not really there. You’re floating through you own thoughts. I feel like life’s a constant acid trip, those times when things keep coming back.”

The 2009 Mercury Prize nominated album ‘Lungs’ is an emotionally raw fairytale journey catapulting you through love and all the pains attached. Playing host to songs such as ‘Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)’, ‘Kiss With A Fist’ and ‘You Got The Love’, ‘Lungs’ has helped secure F+TM’s huge fan base.

And it’s not just her own Welch is capable of performing with such spellbinding talent, with covers such as ‘Hospital Beds’ by Cold War Kids, ‘You Got The Love’ by The Source and Candi Staton and ‘Halo’ by Beyonce. The latter, which F+TM performed in the BBC Live Lounge, was described by host Jo Whiley as one of the best covers they had ever had in the Live Lounge, proving the capability of the band to deliver even when performing live. On stage no two performers are alike often gathering clothes from second-hand shops on the day and Welch goes at it like a woman possessed.

Often overlooked is the seven-piece band of long term collaborators that collective form ‘The Machine’:

• Rob Ackroyd – Guitar
• Chris Hayden – Drums
• Isabella Summers – Keyboard
• Tom Monger – Harp

So what is ‘Lungs’ all about? What inspires such emotionally raw songs? What is it that helped them cinch the 2009 Critics Choice Award at The Brits?

“Everything is about boys! The whole album is about love – and pain.”

Florence +the Machine: Heart-warmingly honest and fully deserving of their rise to fame.

'Lungs' - 8.7/10 - I'm loving Cosmic Love!