Digital, 29th October 2008

A whirling, tumbling maelstrom, Florence Welch throws herself around the stage, flaming red hair flying in all directions. The sheer quality and range of this girl’s voice is pant-wettingly rare: several-times-a-century rare. By far and away the most exciting female vocalist to emerge in recent years, her early myspace demos stand up on their own while suggesting wonderful things to come. It’s also extremely endearing to see an artist with a complete lack of pretension or obnoxious aloofness. Flo’s so full of life and dedicated to her music she appears to be happily unaware of quite how good she actually is.

Main support came from London scenesters The Big Pink, who didn’t really manage to achieve a good enough sound for their bittersweet, shoegazey noise-pop, but proved themselves worthy of further investigation on record. There, for the moment at least, their multi-layered sonics are a richer, more rewarding listen. Check out “Too Young To Love”, (which is receiving serious blog-love) for a better idea.

Back to the main event of the evening, and by the time she emerges onstage under a hazy red glow to start the show alone, Florence is faced with quite a crowd for a cold Tuesday at Digital. It is testament to the buzzing underground popularity of a girl who literally signed her first major record deal the night before this show.

With a tight, inventive band behind her (shame we couldn’t hear the harp), she booms and wails through the uproarious foot-stompers, turning all coy and sultry but still hitting note after perfect note. It’s so completely transfixing that it actually begins to feel slightly humbling to witness someone who is clearly destined to be a shining star this early on in her career.

By the time the fantastically uplifting new song “Cosmic Love” is debuted, heads are rocking, fists are punching the air and before you know it, a gaggle of girls are dancing on the stage in what is a rather triumphant finale. Trying to retain a sense of perspective is difficult after witnessing Florence live, as you would have to be tone deaf or a right miserable bastard not to enjoy it.

For once, here is an artist worthy of excitable hyperbole and a sure topper of next year’s “ones to watch” lists.

Words by Jody White
Photography by Sam Hiscox