Chart Choice

With Andy Goulding

THE One is single number four from Kylie Minogue’s X album, and is a welcome breath of fresh air. It’s more glittery than an explosion in a sequin factory and shimmers like the world’s biggest disco ball. This is a song that perfectly suits Kylie, pictured below, in 2008. The One is mixed and written by the Freemason’s (featuring Russell Small of Phats and Small) and was originally recorded two years ago by a dance group called Laid. This techno- pop ditty is a perfectly made track, and Ms Minogue’s vocal performance is spot on. She’s currently on tour, and filled the MEN arena every night for a week.

Aussie singer, songwriter, music producer and DJ Sam Sparro has had one of the biggest hits of the year so far with his debut Black And Gold, and now follows it with the equally euphoric 21st Century Life. This second single from his eponymous album is another addictive electro-pop gem. Some say it has a feel of 1980s Prince about it. Following up his debut single wasn’t going to be an easy job, but he’s done it in style. Cooler and more poppy than the previous, it’s his look at the way media and technology are making today’s world even pacier.

Cheryl Cole is currently trailing up and down the country as a judge on the new series of X Factor. The Girls Aloud member has stated that one of the things she’s looking for in this new series is a new pop act that can rival Girls Aloud and the Sugababes. Well, prepare yourself for The Saturdays, a new all female five-piece looking to bring some pure pop to summer 2008 with their debut single If This Is Love. Featuring two of the girls from the now very grown up S Club Juniors, it doesn’t really move on from what they were doing back then. However, it’s well-made pop that doesn’t pretend to be anything else, and there isn’t much of this music around at the moment. With a Yazoo sample for extra catchiness, it’s a decent enough electro pop track.

Finally this week, among all this summery electro-pop, there is a slice of real guitar from Yorkshire indie boys The Pigeon Detectives. Everybody Wants Me is a rather disappointing release from the usually feisty impulsive band, but it may be a case of rush- releasing as many songs as possible while the hype lasts. Unfortunately, this is just rather predictable and maybe a little arrogant, as it covers every theme and sound that they’ve done before. Maybe they need to be brave and come back with a third album to blow us away in the way their first album did.

(c) 2008 Sentinel, The (Stoke-on-Trent UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.