Fiona

Quite often we come across an artist who appeals to us before we've even heard any of their music and so it was that many, many years ago, whilst perusing a Guinness Book of World Records, we decided that we liked Fiona Apple just because she was responsible for the longest album title of all time.

It was at least a decade before we heard any of her music, but in 2007 a friend introduced us to what was, at the time, her most recent album: Extraordinary Machine. We were intrigued but nothing we heard set our heart on fire or encouraged us to go running out into the streets to tell passersby the good news.

Fastforward to 2010 and a good root around her back catalogue revealed to us that, in fact, there is plenty of Music by Fiona that makes us twirl depressedly and wistfully through the mountains (!?) of South East London, yearning and stretching. And plenty that makes us stomp and writhe and do a sassy empowered dance about our bedrooms.

Which brings us to her new album: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do.

We're certain that as our love for and appreciation of the album deepens and grows, we'll write a more glowing extended report, and no doubt it'll feature extensively in our end of year roundup, but for now, let us tell you that: this is one of - if not the - best albums released so far in 2012. Fiona has crafted her own unique and fully realised sound world and each song is lithe, angry, breathing, delicate and wilfully real. The clatters and rumbles of the simple, frenetic, paired back percussion, the effortless poetry of her complex yet incisive lyrics, the majesty of her masterful grasp of melody...

Let's hope we're not getting carried away in this unbearable humid heat. But as far as we're concerned: this is a really special album and you should buy it, like, now.