Is the MPHO album any good?

We don't know, yet, but it's got an extremely pretty cover, dunt it?

MPHO is interesting and an undeniable talent, and it's criminal that not only is she (relatively) flopping, she also seems not to have the hardcore fanbase that usually ensures this sort of off-beat pop artist survives. This year has had some noticeable 'left of centre' successes: La Roux, Florence, Little Boots (to an extent), but plenty more who have just completely failed to latch on in anyway. It's interesting and worrying.

The current vogue for self-consciously 'quirky' popstars has meant that many talented individuals have been signed to huge major labels, and had unrealistic expectations placed on them. This is unfair and has seen them 'flop', where if they'd concentrated on filling the niches that alternative artists of the 90s left for them, they might have 'succeeded'. We mean, was VV Brown ever really going to be a smash hit superstar? Or Frankmusik? Or MPHO? They seem much better suited to a cult fanbase, a large independent label, and respectable album sales, but huge major labels (basically, Island) have signed them up and expected them to go to number 1. Which was never going to happen.

It's cruel and rather unnecessary, but that's just our opinion.