Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It’s not that Florence Welch has a machine; rather, she is the machine. The 20-year-old London singer twirls onto the stage, arms held high, and storms through 13 songs in her short set like a whirling dervish, knocking her audience sideways with a soul blues voice that can rival Sixties Motown singers, never mind her peers.
Welch is the latest young female soul singer to have record labels running after her with chequebooks. From her assured performance tonight, you’d think she’d been doing this for years. Her songs are often elaborately arranged, shifting between vocal and instrumental parts and containing a dose of idiosyncrasy that sets her apart from her contemporaries. “Kiss With a Fist” (which she insists on her MySpace site is not about domestic violence) is her first single on uber-cool label Moshi Moshi, but it’s not her best.
“Bird Song”, her opener tonight, is more impressive. Beginning with hauntingly compelling a capella vocals, it bursts into a stomping song with a sparse tribal beat as she shakes her long hair energetically, her powerful vocals defying her waif-like figure. “Girl with One Eye” and “Hospital Beds” also display her blues stripes. Intriguingly for a new artist, many of tonight’s songs are covers, her version of MGMT’s “Electric Feel” proving she can do popstar as well as quirky singer.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments