New pop divas unleash debut albums

By Ian Youngs
Music reporter, BBC News

Three of the hottest new pop acts in Britain are releasing their debut albums in the coming weeks.

The releases from Florence and the Machine, La Roux and Little Boots are among the most eagerly awaited albums of the year.

Watch the videos for their current singles below, and get the lowdown on who they are and what they sound like.

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE

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Watch the video for Florence and the Machine's single Rabbit Heart

She is: Florence Welch, a 22-year-old bohemian art school drop-out. The album attempts to capture her joyous, effervescent live shows.

Form guide: Won the Brit Award for Critics' Choice, given to the most promising rising star, in February.

Random fact: Was discovered drunkenly singing Motown hits in a nightclub toilet.

NB: All figures are entirely unscientific.

To listen to all of the above artists in a Spotify playlist, click here You will need a Spotify account, which is free and publicly available in the UK.

The album: Lungs, released by Island Records on 8 July.

Killer tracks: Dogs Days Are Over, Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up), Kiss With a Fist.

Typical lyric: "The stars, the moon, they've all been blown out. You left me in the dark. No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight, in the shadow of your heart." Cosmic Love

The links: Official site & BBC artist page

LA ROUX

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Watch the video for La Roux's next single Bulletproof

She is: Elly Jackson, aged 20, also from south London, with an aim of bringing big 1980s-style pop tunes and big hair back to the charts.

Form guide: Her single In For the Kill has been in the top 10 for two months and counting, half of that time spent at number two.

Random fact: Her mum played June Ackland in police drama The Bill.

Listen to the above artists in a Spotify playlist here

The album: La Roux, the album, is out on Polydor on 29 June.

Killer tracks: Bulletproof, In for the Kill, Tigerlily.

Typical lyric: "We broke in two like a matchstick, it burns in my soul every day. Your world was to me so fantastic, and hell seemed so far away." Growing Pains

The links: Official site & BBC artist page

LITTLE BOOTS

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Watch the video for Little Boots' current single New In Town

She is: Victoria Hesketh, 25, from Blackpool, a synth starlet who aims to bridge the gap between cool club and school disco.

Form guide: Topped the BBC's Sound of 2009 list at the start of the year, voted for by music critics and DJs to find the best new stars.

Random fact: Once auditioned for Pop Idol, and was in a short-lived girl group called Jaded Faith.

Listen to the above artists in a Spotify playlist here

The album: Hands is out on Atlantic on 8 June.

Killer tracks: Earthquake, Stuck on Repeat, Mathematics.

Sample lyric: "And when the music fades away, I know I'll be OK. Contagious rhythm's in my brain, let it play." Remedy

The links: Official site & BBC artist page

And hot on their heels...

The next wave of British female pop contenders: Pixie Lott, Paloma Faith, Marina and the Diamonds, Alex Roots, Daisy Dares You.