A&R FOCUS.

It is no secret that The Alice Band is possibly the project closest to the heart of Instant Karma chairman Rob Dickins. And now, after two years in development, the country-tinged female trio are poised to launch their work onto the world.

The success of this flagship project to the label -- which has yet to score any significant album breakthroughs beyond Helicopter Girl's Mercury Music Prize nomination -- is important, though the quality of the music suggests it should not be too much of an uphill struggle.

"I've been involved with them heavily because I love their taste in music. What was fascinating was the involvement with their musical conversations. Most bands come together outside of a recording deal, while The Alice Band came despite a record deal," says Dickins.

His track record working with The Corrs when he was chairman of Warner Music UK is bound to provoke comparisons because of the musical similarities The Alice Band draw with the Irish quartet. "That combination of real songs together with people who are not unattractive to the eye is a fantastic combination," says Dickins.

However, band member Audrey is quick to dismiss the likeness. "The three girl comparison is obvious but we're not as Celtic with a fiddle break in every song," she says. Charity adds, "We have more of a guitar-based sound using 12-strings along with Hammond organs with a wah-wah sound."

For a band with such strong musical abilities and credentials, it is a surprise to learn they did not form in the traditional manner. "We were looking at them separately before things came together. ...