Lungs (Domestic)

VINYL FORMAT. Florence Welch, an art-school dropout from South London, first gained fame at home with two bombastic singles; "Kiss With a Fist" and "Dog Days Are Over." Her debut album is co-produced by Paul Epworth (Bloc Party, Maximo Park), James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Last Shadow Puppets) and Steve Mackay (Pulp, M.I.A.), and has already amassed a hefty amount of critical acclaim in the UK. Lungs is made of harps, choirs, drums, quartets, strange electronic wailing, while incorporating countless other instruments and emotions along the way. The songs are full of Gothic imagery, of fairytale flights of fantasy, and although much has been read into her lyrics, Florence says it's usually simple. "Everything is about boys!" she laughs. "The whole album is about love - and pain. People see my lyrics as crazy, but to me it's an honest, heartfelt album. I didn't set out to be wacky. I just want it to be emotive."

'There's so much brilliant stuff it's difficult to know where to begin; the soaring crescendo of new single "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)," the achingly beautiful "Howl" and a breathtaking cover of The Source classic "You Got the Love." "Drumming" is a fabulous nail-on-the-head song about what it feels like to be in love . . . With vocals building from breathy almost-nothings to soaring, arching crescendos and the accompanying harps, strings, hopes and dreams, this album takes you somewhere you'll never want to come back from. When news gets out that she writes her best stuff, "when drunk or hungover," Florence's transition from unknown to British classic will be complete.' - BBC News