Lungs - Florence + the Machine

It's all Coup de Main's fault! I got dragged along to Laneways here in Auckland not really knowing much about who was on other than the odd bit of radio play and now I have a new addiction.

This new form of cocaine comes in the form of Laneways highlight Florence + the Machine. It was mindblowingly amazing. Some acts just have it live and Florence is one of them. It just went off.

Florence (born Florence Welch) is all kinds of fabulous. And yes I mean that in the campest possible way, more importantly as a compliment. She's got some of that 60's swagger and charm of a Dusty Springfield, an elegance and outrageousness that just oozes out of every pore and a voice that somehow seems it could simultaneously strip paint and be the Tim Tam straw in your hot chocolate.

With an easy-going charm she won over Auckland's rain-soaked audience and so, naturally, I acquired the album.

Lungs as an album is an excellent indicator of the passion they bring to the live performance, it's eclectic enough to contain plenty of harp and also some electronic flourishes and it's damned catchy.

Don't let the easy going start fool you - Dog Days Are Over is a full on belter that starts the album off with punch and it irresistibley sing-a-long-able.

I'm Not Calling You A Liar has the kind of sway I could see her singing while strutting down a street with 12 inch heels on, pausing briefly to sip delicately at a water fountain. Another highlight.

Kiss With A Fist is amazing. So. Much. Fun. With a heavy, fuzzy guitar and the full lyrics being "a kick in the teeth is good for some, a kiss with a fist is better than none" I could see why this wouldn't be everyones cup of tea, but personally this is the song I'm playing in my head as I dance around my apartment in my underwear.

Girl With One Eye is another song full of swagger and sway. A little bit of grit in the voice adds the attitude you can picture Florence bringing to any situation "I said hey girl with one eye, get your filthy fingers out of my pie."

I've just names four songs as highlights and that's just within the first six songs on the album. Other high points in the thirteen-track album include Drumming Song, Cosmic Love, My Boy Builds Coffins, Blinding and the sublime finale You've Got the Love.

What's the genre? Well that's easy, it's a sort of alternative-funk-soul-pop-rock-electronica feel with a splash of fabulocity.

This is my discovery of the year so far. (Yes... I know it came out last year, but I only added it to my collection recently so there!) :P

For a wee bit of a taste check this out:

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I'm giving this one 5 fabulous hair flicks