Artists choose their albums of the decade - part one

Florence Welch (Florence And The Machine) picks...

Arcade Fire - Funeral

It's maybe not defined the decade, but for me on hearing that it just choked me in some way.

It really kind of opened up my idea that pop music or contemporary music could be - so orchestral and grand, but at the same time tough. It was all kinds of things.

I remember sitting on my bed having to listen to it all the way through, you can't just have it on in the background. I was really swept away by it.

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Florence says she's working on 'chemical' songs

Florence Welch has described sessions for her forthcoming second album as "a step forward" and "heavier in sound".

After receiving three nominations for this year's Brit Awards the singer returned to the studio last week with producer Paul Epworth to begin working on new material.

She said: "It sounds a bit more fuzzy, a bit harder. If the first album was animal and anatomical I think this one is chemical and elemental."

Debut Lungs is still at number one in the UK album chart after selling more than 700,000 copies since being released in July 2009.

Meanwhile, Welch has also unveiled details of her forthcoming Cosmic Tour.

Tickets for the gigs go on sale on Friday 29 January.

The dates in full are:
Dublin Olympia Theatre - 2 and 3 May

Edinburgh Corn Exchange - 5 and 6

Blackpool Empress Ballroom - 7 and 9

Wolverhampton Civic Theatre - 10 and 11

London Hammersmith Apollo - 13, 14 and 15

Florence added to Isle Of Wight line-up

N-Dubz and Florence and the Machine have been added to the line-up for this year's Isle Of Wight festival.

La Roux, The Hold Steady and Biffy Clyro will also play the event which takes place at Seaclose Park, Newport, between 11-13 June.

As previously reported Jay-Z, The Strokes, Vampire Weekend and Friendly Fires have already been confirmed for the festival.

The 2009 event was headlined by Stereophonics and The Prodigy.

Florence and the Machine producer wins Brit Award

Paul Epworth, who co-produced Florence and the Machine's album, has won the top prize at the Music Producers' Guild Awards, which also doubles as a Brit.

Epworth was named producer of the year by the MPG, meaning he was also handed the Brit Award for best producer.

It is the second year the two prizes have been awarded together. The main Brits ceremony will be held on Tuesday.

As well as Florence, Epworth has also worked with Friendly Fires, Bloc Party, Jack Penate, The Big Pink and Plan B.

Singer Florence Welch was at the MPG ceremony in London on Thursday to present him with the two trophies.

Epworth started his career working in a council-funded recording studio in Harlow, Essex, before becoming a tea boy at Sir George Martin's Air Studios.



Dizzee Rascal and producer Nick Denton won best UK album
"I wouldn't be here without the freedom that the digital revolution has given me creatively," he said.

"But also I know I'm lucky to have had that old tuition from people who worked with The Beatles, The Doors, The Beach Boys."

He is now working on new Florence material, as well as working on his own album and writing with Adele.

Florence wants Radiohead collaboration

Florence Welch has revealed that she'd like to sign up Radiohead's Thom Yorke to work on her forthcoming second album.

Speaking to Newsbeat the singer said: "I think that he's a really amazing musician - I'd like to do something with him in the future."

Nominated for three Brit Awards in 2010, she is currently working on the follow-up to her number one album Lungs released last year.

She added: "I've never met him but I'm a big fan of his work. I think it could work - I haven't done anything about it though."

Last month, describing the sound of the new songs she's currently working on with producer Paul Epworth she explained: "It sounds a bit more fuzzy, a bit harder.

"If the first album was animal and anatomical, I think this one is chemical and elemental."

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