Visitors to the British Music Experience at the O2 in London have commented that there is hardly a mention of women in music pre-Madonna. Yet ironically, women are now some of the most ground-breaking and best-selling music around.

Polly Scattergood is the latest graduate from The Brit School to make good, and Karima Francis has been acclaimed as the most important musical artist to come out of the north west since Morrissey. Well, that’s taking liberties a bit far. What about Gary Barlow?

Anyway, Francis is a Blackpool breath of sea air to be reckoned with. Reminiscent of Joan Armatrading, Karima’s songs are warm, emotive and impassioned. With radio airplay, she could be as hot as KT Tunstall.

Probably a more acquired taste, Polly Scattergood is following the Kate Bush/Tori Amos whimsical blueprint, as demonstrated on lead single Other Too Endless. Scattergood is undoubtedly destined to become a favourite with fey, airy-fairy young things.

Only time will tell, however, if either Karima Francis or Polly Scattergood secures herself a mention in the archives of rock’n’roll history.