It’s been four years since Shoot from the Hip, Sophie Ellis Bextor’s last studio album, during which time the self styled ice queen of pop has got hitched to The Feeling’s bass guitarist Richard Jones and had a baby.
Trip the Light Fantastic marks her long overdue return to the pop scene. The album, which Ellis Bextor describes as “an invitation to dance”, features collaborations with the likes of Cathy Dennis, Fred Schneider from The B52s and Xenomania.
They say:
The Independent: “Soulless, lifeless and worthless.”
The Sun: “Trip... takes Sophie up another notch – welcome back.”
The Times: “Little short of heroic.”
We say:
As sublime as Ellis Bextor’s singles (‘Take Me Home’, ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ and ‘Get Over You’) have been, she’s never quite released a killer solo album. Her debut Read My Lips came mightily close, but veered off into plodville when it really mattered.
This changes with Trip the Light Fantastic, however. Kicking off in style with the album’s two preceding singles, ‘Catch You’ and ‘Me and My Imagination’ respectively, the quality never drops with the uber posh diva dipping her designer stilettos in ‘80s disco pop and elegant electronica.
Among the many highlights are the gorgeous, live for the moment ballad ‘Today the Sun’s on Us’, the Debbie Harry meets Human League ‘New York City Lights’ and the instant floor filler ‘If I Can’t Dance’, which is the perfect showcase for the Bextor’s strangely appealing upper crust phrasing.
‘If You Go’, meanwhile, is simply outstanding, with Xenomania fusing her soothing vocals with arcade samba beats. The result is insanely catchy.
Shimmering and sparkling like a thousand mirrorballs, you’ll be hard pushed to find a more hypnotic and polished collection of dance pop this year. Miss Minogue has her work cut out for her when she returns.
Like this? Try these:
Human League – Dare
Madonna – Confessions on a Dance Floor
theaudience – theaudience
RELEASED
Out now
LABEL
Fascination Records/ Polydor
POSTED...
Thu 24 May 2007 at 1:53pm
