MPHO - Box N Locks

Built around the insanely catchy guitar riff of Martha and the Muffins' new-wave anthem 'Echo Park', London-based upcomer MPHO is making a huge splash with her opening single 'Box N Locks' - a song that still sounds vibrant and exciting, despite being online for months now.

Led (for about 99% of the track) by it's heavy 80s sample, this is a brilliant piece of 2009 pop. It ticks so many boxes; it's undeniably fun, catchy from the opening few seconds, and sounds unlike anything around right now. But it's the hard-hitting words which really sink in, as MPHO lashes out at stereotypes - she isn't going to make urban music or become a "ghetto chick" simply because she's a "feisty little brown girl, raised in Brixton town."

Defying lazy labels and misconceptions, 'Box N Locks' is wildly addictive pop with a strong message idea behind it. Brilliant.