Come on Kevin - you don't mean that of all of them. Or if you do I will get you to stand next to either of my daughters when they are going for it (OK, one is 27 and the older now 42) without earplugs!

It's for some reason mainly the signed ones!

Briggs I think did over-fey it a bit - but she had shedloads more vocal presence than many young female singers today. The eminent dame (SC) I think had probably been bullied by classical voice teachers when younger, and had a fine voice and control, but indeed too much control. Curiously Tabor for me underlines the tension by being so controlled and every so often the beast peeks out to electric effect. Compare (if you know them) Galliard. Dave Reay is probably the most skilled all-round guitarist in Kent and Faye has unflawed pitch and control - but the time I liked her singing the best was one night at Knockholt in a big circle and the smoke from the fire (which she hates, she has asthma issues) and they did a big blues belter - might have been a Bessie Smith song - and she grabbed my ears like never before.

So (you wondered about my point, no?) the problem is not universal and not wholly new - but it seems to be getting worse and more prevalent.