changing all the boys into girls

(Beth Jeans Houghton) a 21-year-old from the north-east of England, is to be praised for one thing: at least she hasn’t headed down the “one girl and her guitar” route.

What she has done, however, is create a sound which is almost absurdly ill-matched to her songs. Occasionally diverting but predominantly trivial lyrics are coupled with portentous choirs, Enya-like strings and much pseudo-operatic hooting. If Mute wanted their own Florence, then for better or worse, they’ve found her.