I have been counting down to this release as much for my adoration of Beth Ditto and The Gossip as I was uber-producer Brian Higgins of Xenomania.
Beth Ditto is gorgeous, glamorous and grotesque all in the same collision of fashion and performance art. Her voice works great when fronting monster rock songs like "Standing in the Way of Control" - but then on Simian Mobile Disco-produced The Beth Ditto EP, she proved those pipes could just as seductively slink around a dance groove.
The Gossip - much like the Yeah Yeah Yeah's are no mere backing band. They are musicians at the top of their game. From shredding guitars to thundering bass and now heavenly keyboards they create intense, euphoric sonic soundscapes.
Brian Higgins house of Xenomania has produced most of my favorite pop albums of the past 5 years: 5 perfect albums and 22 CD singles by Girls Aloud, Gabriella Cilmi's stunning "Lessons to be Learned" and the two amazing St. Trinian's soundtracks.
Combined, they have created a dance pop masterpiece. This is audio candy for the ears - the production is crisp, the songs are solid, passionate, intimate and massive. The sound evokes as much Girls Aloud as it does Robyn (the funky, twisted Get a Job), early 80's new wave, latter era ABBA and Donna Summer.
A triumph and on track to be the soundtrack to a funky, fabulous summer.