Ordinarily, the term the term 'Female Singer-songwriter' is met with a resounding 'eugh', but have a listen to Florence and the Machine, and you will realise they are not all floral dress wearing, acoustic guitar wielding, Alanis Morissette wannabes!

When you first hear 'Ye Old Hope', the most noticeable element is South Londoner Florence Welch's voice. With a sound as gravelly as it is strong and powerful, she belts out the song with the punkish edge of Karen O. According to Florence, she learned to sing 'In church, in the school choir, at weddings and funerals, watching The Rocky Horror Show, everywhere', which would account for the rich and varied sound she has crafted with her vocal chords.

Set against the backdrop of pelting drums and dirty distorted guitar, the song becomes an aural treat, that is as bluesy and traditional as it is fresh and edgy.

Florence and the Machine remain unsigned, but with fans including Alex James, and a slot supporting Scout Niblett that went down a storm at Scala last Monday, we will probably be hearing a lot more from Florence before 2008 is out.

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