Listen: Laurel – “Fire Breather”/”The Desert”

Laurel Arnell-Cullen, who sometimes calls herself London’s Last Sweetheart, is a relative newcomer.

These two tracks, potentially taken from an upcoming EP, take a formulaic A-side/B-side format; “Fire Breather” is the hit, and “The Desert” the slow burner, but both tracks showcase a vastly promising knack for emotionally hard-hitting pop.

The latter is five minutes of aching balladry, and has the kind of quality Ellie Goulding’s very first demos promised, whereas “Fire Breather” has the immediacy; a soaring chorus and bundles of attitude and confidence.

Laurel’s blog is adorned with the tagline: “London’s last sweetheart trying to set the world to rights with love songs.”. We’re already well on the way to being set.