Florence says she's working on 'chemical' songs

Florence Welch has described sessions for her forthcoming second album as "a step forward" and "heavier in sound".

After receiving three nominations for this year's Brit Awards the singer returned to the studio last week with producer Paul Epworth to begin working on new material.

She said: "It sounds a bit more fuzzy, a bit harder. If the first album was animal and anatomical I think this one is chemical and elemental."

Debut Lungs is still at number one in the UK album chart after selling more than 700,000 copies since being released in July 2009.

Meanwhile, Welch has also unveiled details of her forthcoming Cosmic Tour.

Tickets for the gigs go on sale on Friday 29 January.

The dates in full are:

Dublin Olympia Theatre - 2 and 3 May

Edinburgh Corn Exchange - 5 and 6

Blackpool Empress Ballroom - 7 and 9

Wolverhampton Civic Theatre - 10 and 11

London Hammersmith Apollo - 13, 14 and 15