Kate Tempest is a rare commodity and all credit to her for that. She's a musician who is actually more interested in creating then earning, which is few and far between these days.

Recorded live and without any music Tempest's 'Broken Herd' is perhaps the bravest first album from any female British solo artist ever. It would have been easy for Tempest to tart herself up and dumb herself down enough to become some sort of Kate Nash/Lily Allen style artist. Instead she has remained true to her craft and lovers of the spoken word will rejoice because of it. Kate Tempest is truly the last of a dying breed.

Although many critics will find it hard to define her music, it is clearly hip hop. The fact she performs a cappella (minus a beat) means it can be classified as spoken word poetry but so could 99 per cent of rap. The problem Tempest has found throughout her career is that she does not fit in; too white for the hip hop scene and too dark (lyrically) for anything else. The genius that is Tempest, though, was somehow clever enough to realise that if she stripped her words of any background beat and left them alone among silence to resound in her audience's ear then anyone can recognise her extraordinary talent.

Speaking of talent 'Track Four' is one of the best pieces of hip hop inspired word play ever. Seriously. It is a metaphorical tale about four friends called Talent, Envy, Pride and Ambition, which is simply mesmerising.

Tempest sometimes goes so deep it will leave your brain in knots. Her lyrics are often so insightful that they can stop you in your tracks. Her style is reminiscent of KRS One, very philosophical and satirical. The fact she is strawberry blonde and female should not distract us from the fact Kate Tempest is one of the worlds best lyricists.

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