Gary Flockhart: OMG, LDR’s new album is a winner

LANA Del Rey is quite the phenomenon these days. The New Yorker hasn’t even released her debut album yet, but already she’s being tipped for greatness in 2012.

Even Jarvis Cocker, who is not generally a man prone to hyperbole, has sung the praises of the singer who became an internet star after her homemade music video for debut single Video Games notched up millions of hits on Youtube.

“I heard it on the radio and I legally downloaded it and then played it on my [BBC 6 Music] show and I suddenly thought, ‘Wow, I’m playing something that’s in the charts,’ enthused Cocker.

“I got really excited about that because I was brought up on the charts and I have lamented their demise as a vital part of our British life.”

I concur with the Pulp man’s endorsement wholeheartedly and urge anyone not yet familiar with Del Rey to seek out the dozen or so songs of hers that are floating around the web.

To my eyes and ears, the 24-year-old singer has the makings of a truly great star. With her long lashes, big bouffant hairdo and bee-stung lips, she oozes old Hollywood glamour which, combined with the quality of her haunting retro-pop songs and hummingbird-like vocals, is a winning concoction.

Del Rey’s debut album, Born To Die, is released in January - and I can’t wait to hear what’s set to be one of the most talked about albums of the new year.

All told, I’ve not been this excited about a new female artist since a fledgling Laura Marling played to a handful of punters at Bannerman’s a few years ago.