3. Florence & The Machine
Paying homage to some of the greatest musicians of all time and rocking it for the redheads is Florence Welch (and her machine). Described by many as a modern sythesis of Annie Lennox, PJ Harvey and Kate Bush, Florence is a master of the eccentric and her darkly romantic and epic inaugural album 'Lungs' showcased her incredibly unique blend of modern R&B themes with dark, brooding orchestral arrangements. She quickly became a real heavyweight in the realms of quirky indie pop and her subsequent second release 'Ceremonials', released in 2011, appeared on the end-of-year "Best Albums" lists of almost every critic about. Florence & The Machine's music could be described as an ingenious mixture of classic soul with whimsical baroque pop and haunting art rock. The prominent contrast of bellowing, thunderous drums with delicate, angelic harp arrangements in their music creates an aura of struggle between light and dark - this is something Florence has alluded to, stating that she chooses to write about "love and pain, heaven and hell" as it is a resounding theme across the ages. One of the most bizarre and captivating singers of our time, Florence, with the help of her machine, has managed to create something truly timeless.