Two years ago, BBC's Sound of 2009 poll placed Florence and the Machine as third on a list of promising new musicians. At that time in January, the band had not yet released their debut album Lungs. Word of Florence Welch's quirky pop was spreading quickly, and when the album was released in June of that year, it arrived at number 2 on the UK album charts. Since then, the British group has played at countless festivals, including Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, T in the Park, and Voodoo Festival.
Though Florence and the Machine is technically a band, singer and songwriter Florence Welch is the main member, and her backup band forms the rest of the group. Welch's powerful, soaring voice and enchanting songs of love and death have been a refreshing alternative to the manufactured pop music of today. Hints of folk ("Girl with One Eye"), rock ("Kiss with a Fist"), soul ("You Got the Love"), and pop ("Howl") all present themselves on Lungs. Welch has said in the past that she "wanted to make something that would make people feel an emotion," and her live performances are proof that audiences agree her music certainly has an emotional impact.
The album won the 2010 Mastercard British Album award at the Brit Awards. Florence and the Machine have been nominated for Best New Artist at this year's Grammys. Surprisingly, they performed at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, which usually only includes mainstream American pop artists.
Later this year, the band will be the support for the remaining American dates of U2's 360 Tour in June. Expect an album to be released as well.
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