The long awaited debut album from Florence & The Machine was released today (6th July) and I thought I’d put it through it’s paces as I walked to work.

Kiss With A Fist, Rabbit Heart, You’ve Got The Love and Dog Days are already very familiar to many of us, so in a sense I wish I was hearing all the songs for the first time as a complete package. I find myself skipping through the album to hear songs I don’t know.

The songs I haven’t heard do make up for it however – they’re thunderous, strong, independent and feminine.

Her voice is refreshing and unlike her rivals like Little Boots and La Roux – we’re not battling to hear her voice through a barrage of heavy electro-pop sounds.

Let’s put it this way;

• Little Boots, Lady Gaga, La Roux are a cup of PG Tips with three sugars, two sweeteners and far too much milk.

• Florence on the other hand is a clear cup of Darjeeling with a wedge of lemon.

Florence + The Machine – Cosmic Love (P.E.S.T Remix) – download

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Florence + The Machine – Rabbit Heart (P.E.S.T Remix) - download

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Florence + The Machine – Dog Days Are Over (Breakage Remix) - download

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Florence + The Machine – You’ve Got The Love