Ashok

With everyone talking about Florence and the Machine spare a thought for her former band Ashok - who I have seen described as Brockley and Greenwich-based but are definitely in the Transpontine area. A couple of the songs Flo sings on her new album developed from tracks she performed with Ashok. Interesting to compare versions - Ashok's Happy Slap is an earlier take on Florence and The Machine's Kiss with a Fist. Ashok are more jazz/funky, complete with MC. Their album Plans is also out now.

Here's some footage of Ashok (complete with Florence) performing at Brixton Jamm in 2006: