The Sugababes are, aside from Girls Aloud, generally regarded as the UK’s most successful girl group of the 21st century. With dozens of chart-topping hits–from “Overload” to “Freak Like Me” to “About You Now”–five Top 10 albums and dozens of awards to their name, the ‘Babes have consistently slayed for well over a decade–although not all as one defining unit.

Yet as much as the girls have become known for being a legendary powerhouse troupe of soulful divas, they’ve earned themselves just as strong of a reputation for the revolving door status of their members–the kind of constant switcheroo that easily puts the frequent chiding of Destiny’s Child‘s own member swap to shame.

When the group first started, the original Sugababes were Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhán Donaghy–who left after the release of their debut album citing an interest in pursuing fashion, and only later on revealing during an interview that Keisha was a “bully” that pushed her out of the group. She was replaced by Heidi Range in 2001.

Mutya Buena then took a leave in late 2005 and replaced by Amelle Berrabah, while Keisha Buchanan eventually bowed out (and/or was kicked out by Amelle and Heidi for–you guessed it, allegedly being a bully) in late 2009, leaving Jade Ewen to fill her spot.

But as the group’s original member count has slowly dwindled, so too has their reputation. Now in their fourth incarnation, the Sugababes have no actual Sugababes members remaining, and it’s come to the point now where the group is being heavily mocked in the media for looking like a desperate knock-off of the original brand.

For years, there’s been a steadily growing public outcry for the original ‘Babes to reform (if not just the stuff of Suga fanboy/girl dreams) and now, it seems those dreams are about to come true.

Back in October, UK blog Wot You Got reported that the original trio had reunited and were heading back in the studio to work on a few demos together to test out their sound after over a decade apart.

Earlier this evening, Keisha Buchanan just added fuel to the initial rumors by tweeting the following:

Hanging out in the studio with @professorgreen and two lovely ladies with bags of talent :-p lol

And then came a tweet from Mutya Buena:

@ studio wit professor green in tha building and 2 beautiful ladies

The third and final original member of Sugababes–Siobhán–isn’t on Twitter just yet, but the tweets still all but confirm the same thing: The iconic soulstresses behind hits like “Overload,” “Run For Cover” and “Soul Sound” are back in the studio working together. As of today, they’ve allegedly been involved with popular UK producer Professor Green. And according to some newer Internet rumors, they were even working with Xenomania‘s Brian Higgins and Miranda Cooper just before Christmas. And although there’s still no official confirmation just yet (although my boo over at The Prophet Blog just revealed that he’s known this to be true for a while), it’s pretty safe to say that this one’s a go. (EDIT: It is–as triply confirmed by PopJustice.)

Still, plenty of questions now loom: For one, what’s to come of the current Sugababes? Well, the news certainly doesn’t look promising. By most accounts, the group’s been quietly dropped from Sony/RCA. Ever since the non-release of “Freedom” by the Sugababes 4.0 which stalled only days before its release date last September and ended up being offered as a free download, the ever-withering troupe has fallen silent over the past six months.

Plus, in an interview published yesterday with Heidi Range–who’s now about to appear on Dancing On Ice–the singer openly admitted that the group’s not doing much these days. From Digital Spy:

“We were just in a period where we weren’t busy anyway. We were doing our own thing,” Range told Digital Spy. “We haven’t split up, no.”

Speaking about the group’s future, she added: “We’re not concentrating on it. I’m concentrating on this. We haven’t got anything planned at the moment.”

If the Sugababes 4.0 aren’t splitting just yet, their name remains intact. So what will the original troupe be called? Although it’s true that Mutya won limited rights to the Sugababes name back in August (quite limited, actually–as in paper goods, stationary and gift wrapping), it doesn’t seem as though the girls will be able to reunite under their original name. Any guesses on their new incarnation name?

Only one thing’s for sure: I’m on overload.

Ellie Goulding is an unlikely pop star.

Her public image is subdued, even self-effacing; her voice is a gorgeous, fragile wisp that would sound more at home at a coffee shop than layered over a bouncing synth track; her lyrics are imbued with an aching vulnerability that most singer-songwriters would kill for. But like some other sonic greats who have paired distinctive vocals with dance beats — like Björk or Siobhan Donaghy — Ellie’s music derives much of its power from its pop sound. Likable, accessible, and danceable, her work with producers like Starsmith, Biff Stannard, and Frankmusik makes her poetry radio-friendly.

Since bursting onto the scene with her debut single, “Under the Sheets” — released via uber-hip singles label Neon Gold — Ellie was the top breakthrough act in the BBC’s Sound of 2010 poll and won the Critics’ Choice Award at the BRITs, a feat previously managed only by Adele. Her debut album, Lights, was released to commercial and critical acclaim, cementing Ellie’s position in the English cultural consciousness. But the re-release, Bright Lights, was even better, containing her sharpest work to date — collaborations with Fred Falke and Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons took her glistening folk-dance to dramatic extremes.

Ellie has toured in the U.S. more than most English artists — we don’t usually get so lucky here in the States — and she’s just kicked off her latest stateside tour. Her evolution as a live artist has been an exhilarating thing to watch, as she’s become the kind of pop performer who genuinely lights up the stage with a rare ferocity. If she’s coming to your town, don’t miss her.

Read more »

With the fate of the Sugababes now resting on a dodgy Greatest Hits release out in late February and a hope and a prayer that their remaining fans still remember which three babes are still in the band (one of them is T-Boz, right?), the absence of OG member Keisha Buchanan has never been felt so strongly.

But in her absence, she’s been rull busy–and the results are now starting to crop up. After the release of a fairly amazing solo clip called “Fearless” back in July comes a brand new song: “Under Control,” a leak from Keisha’s forthcoming solo effort.

Simply put, “Under Control” is quite exciting.

Not only is the electro-tinged R&B production packed with catchy hooks and melodies, but it also allows Buchanan to shine with a surprisingly strong, Robyn-esque swagger of confidence and pop sensibility. “I, I, I got it under control,” she assures us during the stomping, glittery beats of the chorus. At this point, I don’t think anyone’s got any doubt about that!

Furthermore, it sounds like this one really wasn’t meant to leak this early. From her Twitter earlier this evening:

Pretty bummed about my track being leaked, But the response has been amazing!! Thanks so much. Even better 2 come:-) Album almost finished X

Much like original band members Siobhan Donaghy and Mutya Buena, it sounds like this solo Suga may be rolling out a solo campaign as sublime as her founding sisters’ attempts. Don’t mess with a ‘Babe scorned!

Nadine Coyle has an insatiable ego.

After rejecting a major label bid war in favor of an exclusive distribution deal at Tesco, reportedly declining an X Factor performance invite, and forgoing all contact with her (former) Girls Aloud band members for almost a year, Nadine Coyle has made it a point throughout the entire recording and promotional process of her new-found solo career that she’s going to produce and promote the music her own way—and she doesn’t need your help, thank you very much.

Read More…

MuuMuse Approved Tracks for the Week of August 1, 2010

5. Siobhán Donaghy – Goldfish
On the train ride home from the city after having seen Robyn perform live, I needed a musical come-down in the worst of ways. Cue ex-Sugababes crooner Siobhán’s second studio effort, Ghosts–an insanely underrated offering of shimmering, ambient alt-pop. This one especially sticks out in my mind, what with all the teary-eyed, angelic crooning. Gorgeous.

4. Britney Spears – When I Say So
It was a very merry Britmas ’round these parts over the past week, but the leak of “When I Say So” was undoubtedly the greatest gift of all. Like a mix of every ingredient that made the Britney album so successful, BT grants Brit Brit a whole new level of sexy confidence on this power-pop cut. You’ll get some when Ms. Spears says so!

3. Ciara – Gimme That
I believe it is an implied truth that if any pop starlet demands something (“gimme”) in a track, it will undoubtedly be perfection. This is the hottest up-tempo cut I’ve heard from Cici since “Work” happened, but it may simply be one of her most infectious yet. GIMME THAT BASS!

2. Kristine Elezaj – Warpath
Ms. Elezaj may just getting started in the industry, but her upcoming single’s already generating some major heat. Be warned: You’ll need to appreciate ‘trash pop’ to get into this one. Oh, and anyone who throws shade at another chick by comparing her to Justin Bieber? Well, they’re more than alright in my book.

1. Natalia Kills – Mirrors
Well, someone had to do it: Kylie Minogue has finally been dethroned from her seemingly endless reign at Number One on MuuTunes. But if anyone should, it might as well be MuuMuse’s Most Anticipated Artist of 2010. Blindfolds, melted wax, and handcuffs–these are just the everyday playthings of Natalia Kills, as outlined in her killer, surging debut single. It’s dark, it’s delicious, and it craves to be played on repeat. Now shut up and turn the lights off.

It’s my fault for not discovering her sooner…but I’m so glad that I finally have.

This is El Perro Del Mar, otherwise known as Sarah Assbring, a Swedish artist making pop happen since 2006.

I could say that the music she makes, a combination of drippy, ambient pop, distorted strings and a simple, Lykke Li-like delivery, is nothing short of lush.

But it’s my friend David, who, after introducing me to her music, described it best: “Fleetwood Mac on pills in the 90′s…It’s what Siobhan Donaghy wishes she could record. It’s what she tried to do on Ghosts and failed at, mostly.”

“Change of Heart,” the song being featured above, is one of the finest numbers off of her latest EP, Love is Not Pop, which was made available in the US on October 20 of this year.

As for that piece of art you’re currently mesmerized by above? As the clip’s description box tells us, the duo is an act from Budapest that were called in by the label after first being seen in Lido, Paris. They were asked to be filmed for the official video to accompany “Change of Heart” and, according to the director, Flip Nilsson: “When we finally could see the amazing footage together with the music it felt like we got struck by the lightning of love.”

While the original song is brilliant, I’ll also need to direct your attention to the equally special Robyn remix of the track located right here at Pitchfork. The mix adds a bit of the Swedish chanteuse’s own vocals (always a plus!), and the lightest glaze of ’90′s house synths.

“Change of Heart” the kind of song you want to carry with you through life. It’s timeless, it’s beautiful…I could listen to this song time and time again, and so I do.

Purchase “Change of Heart” on iTunes | MySpace | Official Website

According to HolyMoly, Keisha, Siobhan, and Mutya are reforming as the original Sugababes trio once again. Apparently, it’s not just a vague rumor floating in the stratosphere: The site reports that the girls are already in meetings with producers and labels (William Orbit and Warner Records, respectively.)

Additionally, Mutya all-but-confirmed that she is, at the very least, working with Keisha in an interview a few nights ago in Croatia.

Too exciting! I wonder what they’ll call themselves? Sugawomen?

In an industry mired in dime-a-dozen bands and MySpace insta-lebrities, today’s bands tend to suffer from the same symptoms of overzealous promotion, ultimately leading to über-entitlement and general gloating. Yet despite the mighty roar of the media machines behind these bands, a large majority can hardly muster a meow when finally thrust into the spotlight.

Expecting The Gadsdens to fare no differently, I moseyed over to their MySpace with a firm expectation of mediocrity.

Well, I was wrong*. Much to my surprise, The Gadsdens provide a much needed breath of fresh air in a landscape dominated by “average,” blending together the breezy sounds of some of the finer purveyors of contemporary pop, including Take That, Imogen Heap, and even a hint of Vanessa Carlton.

Though there are subtle suggestions of blues and folk-inspired influence sprinkled throughout, the majority of The Gadsdens’ collection is largely pop-based. And unlike so many bands that claim to intentionally “pay homage” to the greater pop moments of the ’80′s and ’90′s in an obnoxious, tongue-in-cheek manner, The Gadsdens carry yesterday’s elements into their music in a wonderfully unpretentious manner.

I absolutely adore the lead singer’s vocals, which seemingly glide through the scales quite effortlessly on tracks like the sweetly tender “Heartbreaker.” Other tracks, like the title track from their upcoming EP, “The Sailor Song” strike me as a brighter rendition of The Decemberists and a bit of ’90′s female singer-songwriter, a la Natalie Merchant.

Though I’m not going to speak for the group, I’m willing to bet that their genuine sound stems from a genuine respect for pop–The group’s blog certainly seems to suggest this influence. (Lykke Li, Siobhan Donaghy, The Cardigans, and Grace Jones for starters.)

The group will be releasing the Sailor Song EP on March 23, a collection of 5 tracks produced by Sean McGhee. Though the band have supported Temposhark on tour, been named as one of the best unsigned acts by NME, and played on BBC’s Radio 6, the band is still bubbling under. Let’s change that, shall we?

Easy, breezy, beautiful…It’s no longer just a phrase for make-up, folks.

DL: The Gadsdens – The Sailor Song (Sharebee)

The Sailor Song EP will be available digitally on iTunes on March 23. For more from The Gadsdens, click here.

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*I really should have known better, considering my ever-reliable blogger buddy XO named The Gadsdens’ “Sailor Song” as one of his Top Tracks of ’08.