Your British ladies

The two ladies today represent two distinct strands of music coming from Britain. Florence Welch is last year’s critics’ darling and indie artist who has broken into the mainstream in a big way, and this is a special edition double CD. Cheryl Cole is this ex-girl group/TV reality show judge/fashion maven’s effort to solidify her solo career with the help of such stalwarts as will.i.am.

Florence + the Machine — Between Two Lungs (Universal Republic). Eccentric, at times macabre, but always energetic and entertaining, the music of Florence + the Machine is indie/emo music given a new slant. There’s something very Tim Burton about her music — listen to songs such as Girl with One Eye, Hospital Beds and My Boy Builds Coffins. And then, there’s her more commercial side as represented by tracks like The Dog Days Are Over, You’ve Got the Love and the title track, where we witness how effortlessly she blends her integrity and honesty as an artist, and yet manage to find something that a broad cross-section of listeners can enjoy, tap their feet to, or turn into a sing-along. She’s that unique an artist. There are several live recordings and remixes in the bonus CD.

Cheryl Cole — Messy Little Raindrops (Polydor UK). A member of the now defunct Girls Aloud girl group, Cheryl Cole’s new CD is a heady mix of R&B, pop and dance, with all the right moves in place. UK rapper Dizzee Rascal, Travie McCoy and the ubiquitous will.i.am are guests on this, her second studio album as a solo recording artist. Live Tonight, Amnesia and Hummingbird are my fave tracks, while Promise This is the party/dance track that’s the first single off the CD. Sure, the music may be accused of being derivative, as there is a very Kylie Minogue feel to the uptempo tracks, but when as polished and slickly produced as this one, one can hardly complain. Cheryl has graced the cover of several UK fashion magazines, so interesting to watch if she breaks in the US as well.