Sophie Ellis-Bextor
by Bradley Stern
filed under: Bob Sinclar, Sophie Ellis-Bextor

sophie ellis bexter7 Bob Sinclar and Sophie Ellis Bextor Team Up to Fuck With YouChris 03 Bob Sinclar and Sophie Ellis Bextor Team Up to Fuck With You

Nope, this ain’t Princess RiRi‘s new single: “Fuck With You” is the newly surfaced collaboration between French House DJ Bob Sinclar and UK disco chanteuse Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

While I’d never expected to hear the straitlaced dance floor diva getting as frisky as she does on top of Sinclar’s funky guitar strums and pulsing disco beats (“Take me on a trip around the moon/I want to fuck with you,” she dreamily croons across the chorus), it mostly works–even though there’s something a bit off about hearing the icy-voiced “Murder On The Dancefloor” chanteuse lovingly singing “fuck” on repeat. It just feels…I don’t know. Wrong.

Prim and proper pop star gone potty mouth aside, the true drawback of this production? An entirely unnecessary rap two-thirds into the song: “I’mma fuck you then fuck your friend,” the mystery man offers. A kind gesture, but…well, you’re making things even more awkward for everyone. It’s just too much. IS JUST TOO MACH!!!

According to the video’s description (and my dicey Google Translate skills), “Fuck With You” is the lead single from Sinclar’s upcoming album Disco Crash, due out in January of 2012.

Disco Crash will be released in January of 2012. (iTunes)


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Calvin Harris, Kylie Minogue, Rihanna, Sophie Ellis-Bextor

rihanna loud rosesm Rihanna to Kick Off New Album Campaign with Lead Single, We Found Love

And now for the most exciting news in the history of ever: Madame Rihanna is about to kick off her new album campaign with a brand new single: “We Found Love.”

According to AllAccess, “We Found Love” is due to impact mainstream Top 40 radio on October 11. And, according to a buttload of online rumors, she’s premiering the single–produced by Calvin Harris (Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis-Bextor)–live this Friday during Brazil’s Rock In Rio concert on September 23.

Princess RiRi even revealed a bit of the lyrics a few days ago on Twitter, which was just retweeted by Calvin Harris:

Sometimes it feels like we find love in the most hopeless place.

tumblr lhyobl14dY1qewmu6o1 500 Rihanna to Kick Off New Album Campaign with Lead Single, We Found Love

MY BODY IS READY.

Loud was released in November of 2010. (iTunes)


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Annie, MuuMuse Approved, Richard X, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Video Premiere, Will Young

Straight boy lust? Join the club.

Inspired by 1956′s classic Trapeze, the UK’s original Pop Idol Will Young finds himself strapped into some spandex and swinging on poles (of the gymnastics variety, that is) in the gorgeous video for his new Richard X-produced single (and one of my favorite tracks of 2011), “Jealousy.”

Along the way, the singer remains hopelessly devoted to a sexy, strapping young hunk of ambiguous sexual orientation spending all his time twirling about with some blonde bimbo (okay, so he’s totally straight but no one wants to admit it).

With all the choreography, underlying sexual tension and crazy stalker ‘feathers-are-sprouting-from-my-skin’ eyes he’s supplying, Young is serving some major Black Swan realness in this clip! WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SWEET WILL?!

But wait–a stolen glance at the trapeze! Is it love? A bittersweet fantasy? Trust me, Will: If it’s anything like I’ve ever experienced, grab a bottle of wine and quit while you’re ahead: It looks (and feels) like a whole lot of jealousy to me.

 For Boys Who Like Boys Who Like Boys Who Like Girls: Watch the Video for Will Youngs New Single, Jealousy

Like the single, Young’s highly anticipated fifth studio album Echoes–due out on August 22–was produced entirely by electro-pop extraordinaire Richard X (Annie, Goldfrapp, Sophie-Ellis Bextor), along with co-writing credits from some of pop’s cutting edge scribes. Accordingly, the album finds Young breaking into new territory by incorporating dance and electronica elements. From the album’s press release:

Will has sidestepped some of his traditional sounds to move more into the world of electronic music, making an album of sophistry and gentility that pulses with the undercurrents of the dance-floor. The sweeping strings and key changes of his hit ballads have made way for synthesised melody, towards something sparer and more controlled. ‘I had to learn to undo my musical muscle memory,’ he explains. ‘To allow space into the music.’

Will has written all but one song on ‘Echoes’ along with a personally assembled roll call of collaborators including Jim Eliot & Mima Stilwell (Kylie), Andy Cato (Groove Armada) and Pascal Gabriel (Ladyhawke).

One of my most anticipated albums of the year? Oh, methinks yes.

“Jealousy” will be released on August 21. (iTunes UK)


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Clare Maguire, Nicola Roberts, Sally Shapiro, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Xenomania

tumblr lm9o5nymqL1qzmk08o1 500 The Nicola Roberts B Side Porcelain Heart Is Arguably Even More Amazing Than The Single

Girls Aloud member Nicola Roberts–or, as PopJustice rightfully suggests we call her, NICOLA FUCKING ROBERTS, has released one of the best singles of the year, “Beat Of My Drum.”

For those who pre-ordered the single on iTunes UK (which just went on sale at midnight tonight in the UK), the song came bundled with a brand new B-side: “Porcelain Heart.”

In short, it is a perfect song. Literally: It’s a perfect pop song. Like a Girls Aloud or Sophie Ellis-Bextor track, “Porcelain Heart” is a perfectly sophisticated glam-pop track, made all the more dramatic thanks to Roberts’ (unexpectedly!) theatrical vibrato–think Clare Maguire produced by Xenomania.

It’s absolutely lush. Beyond. A favorite of the year, undoubtedly. To quote the Nicola: “I wouldn’t change a single thing.”

But the best moment of the entire song, OBVIOUSLY…

“My porcelain…
HEEEEEAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUHHHHRRRTTTTTT!”

afkdfq The Nicola Roberts B Side Porcelain Heart Is Arguably Even More Amazing Than The Single

Note: My actual face upon hearing that note for the first time.

NICOLA FUCKING ROBERTS: Shitting on your faves since–well, since two days ago.

“Beat Of My Drum” was released on June 5. (iTunes UK)


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Diplo, M.I.A., Nicola Roberts, Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Calendar photo nicola roberts 2865083 1853 2560 Listen to a Preview of Nicola Roberts New Single Beat Of My Drum and B Side Porcelain Heart

HOMAHGAW. HOLD ME TIGHT.

It’s real, it’s actual: Here’s your first listen to Nicola Roberts‘ debut single, “Beat Of My Drum,” as well as its accompanying B-side, “Porcelain Heart,” courtesy of We Are Pop Slags.

“Beat Of My Drum”

IT’S SO GOOD AND THEN THE CHANTING OF THE L-O-V-E AND THEN THE HAPPY-GO-LUCKY DIPLO BEAT AND THEN THE SPEAK-SINGING M.I.A. FRIENDLY-NESS OF IT ALL AND THEN I CAN’T EVEN.

“Porcelain Heart”

IT’S SO GOOD AND THEN THE REAL SINGING AND THE LUSH, DARK DISCO BEAT AND THE SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR FRIENDLY-NESS OF IT ALL AND THEN I CAN’T EVEN.

2a9z2nq Listen to a Preview of Nicola Roberts New Single Beat Of My Drum and B Side Porcelain Heart

Dead. Coffin. Done.

“Beat Of My Drum” will be released on June 5. (Pre-Order from iTunes UK)


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Armin van Buuren, Calvin Harris, Cathy Dennis, Freemasons, Greg Kurstin, Metronomy, Richard X, Sophie Ellis-Bextor

sophie ellis bextor 7148179 mfbqtemplateIdrenderScaledpropertyBildheight349 Sophie Ellis Bextor to Release New Single Starlight, New Album Make A Scene on June 6

Well, here’s one press release I never saw coming!

Sophie Ellis-Bextor‘s long awaited, much anticipated fourth studio album has finally been granted a solid release date in the UK: June 6.

On the same day, La Bex will release her latest single “Starlight,” an utterly lush mixture of chilly vocals and warm Italo-disco pulsations that first leaked a few weeks ago.

Haven’t heard it yet? Click below to hear the upcoming single streaming in full, courtesy of Purple Entertainment!

And now, the full press release:

Sophie Ellis-Bextor will release new single ‘Starlight, the follow-up to the international hit ‘Not Giving Up On Love’, on 6th June followed by her new album ‘Make A Scene’ on the same day.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor is back with album number four, after baby number two, looking and sounding better than ever. With a sound that is a mixture of pop, Disco, Nu-Disco and 1980s electronica, Sophie Ellis-Bextor has become established as a multi-platinum selling artist over the past decade. With hit singles such as ‘Take Me Home (A Girl Like Me), ‘Get Over You / Move This Mountain’ and ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ under her belt, Sophie still remains one of today’s most exciting British female solo artists.

‘Starlight’ is a perfect chilled dance anthem that is instantly catchy with a soft but edgy beat. It is a track that can easily take you from sun lounger by day to nightclub by evening and is the perfect summer anthem.

Sophie’s new album ‘Make A Scene’ is an exciting and energetic pop juggernaut on which Sophie was heavily involved with all parts, including co-writing much of it and working with an in-demand team of writers and producers that includes Freemasons, Greg Kurstin, Calvin Harris, Cathy Dennis, Metronomy, Richard X and Armin Van Buuren.

Two songs on the record come from the renowned Freemasons. The first, ‘Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)’ was not just a massive success in the UK but also went on to become one of Sophie’s biggest successes on the continent, particularly Russia where it reached number two in the chart. The second song is the single ‘Bittersweet’ which is a euphoric and emotive epic track with dramatic drum machines and cold eighties synths.

The albums opener ‘Revolution’ was written with Greg Kurstin (Kylie, Lily Allen and Ke$ha) and Cathy Dennis and with its catchy gritty bass and crunching beats it is the perfect upbeat introduction to ‘Make A Scene’. Sophie also worked with Calvin Harris on the album on track ‘Off & On’ which is an edgy, electro track which has the trademark Calvin Harris sound mixed with Sophie’s smooth vocals, and is sure to be a hit.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor emerged ten years ago with rare poise amidst the most memorable chart scuffle since Brit pop. ‘Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)’ with Italian producer Spiller, her debut solo release (after splitting with rock band The Audience), has recently been awarded the astonishing accolade of the decade’s most played track on radio.

Sophie will be touring the UK this summer alongside both Erasure and Bryan Ferry as well as performing at a host of boutique UK festivals.

I’M SO EXCITED!


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Annie, Greg Kurstin, Sally Shapiro, Sky Ferreira, Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Sophie+EllisBextor+sof+3 Bittersweet: Two New Tracks Surface from Sophie Ellis Bextors Upcoming Album, Make A Scene

Oh, Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

After over six months (and counting!), the British disco queen’s highly anticipated fourth studio album, Make A Scene, continues to lie in limbo, facing a seemingly endless series of push-backs and delays.

As the record remains but a twinkling star in the far-off distance, it was only natural then that its contents would slowly begin to trickle out. And so they have, with the album’s latest leaks: “Starlight” and “Revolution.”

“Starlight,” produced by British pop mastermind Richard X and co-penned by Xenomania scribe Hannah Robinson, is a quintessential Sophie Ellis-Bextor production: A heaping slice of Italo-disco revivalism, coated in warm waves of synthesizers and lazily cooed vocals. It’s an incredibly gorgeous number, worthy of playing on repeat for hours on end.

For fans of the latest efforts by Annie and Sally Shapiro, “Starlight” will surely tick all the right boxes. (I’m utterly obsessed!)

“Revolution,” on the other hand, is a much more frantic production which sees Ellis-Bextor letting her hair down and getting rowdy and rebellious, along with a shout out to her legendary 2001 smash “Murder On The Dancefloor.” The track is packed with punchy beats and electro-blippy noises similar to Sky Ferreira‘s “99 Tears” (which shouldn’t exactly come as a surprise, given that both songs were done by the same producer: Greg Kurstin.)

While “Starlight” is surely the better of the two, both tracks are indicative of yet another incredible pop album from Lady Bex…that is, if it ever sees the light of day.

After performing her latest single, “Not Giving Up On Love,” on The Alan Titchmarsh Show last week, Bextor announced that her new album (which she describes as “quite doncey and up-beat”) is due to be released in May 2011. We’ll see about that.

I’m not giving up on love, Sophie…or Make A Scene for that matter!


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Album Review, Cher, Clare Maguire, Jessie J, Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis-Bextor

600px LightAfterDark Clare Maguire: Light After Dark (Album Review)

I didn’t get it at first.

My first listen to the growling alt-country-indie-electronica-whatever-you-want-to-call-it of “Ain’t Nobody,” Clare Maguire‘s debut single released in mid-October of last year, left me feeling cold.

The song’s accompanying abstract video proved even more perplexing, featuring a ghoulish looking Maguire belting out the track from a lone chair in the desert, her hair wildly whipping in the wind.

“It was all a bit too gothic for me,” the gorgeous chanteuse would later tell the BBC regarding her debut, which wound up stalling at #75 on the Singles Chart.

But upon hearing the first few seconds of “Shield and Sword” –the lead track off of Light After Dark, Maguire’s debut album released on February 28–it became almost instantly clear: The Clare Maguire experience is best served in full.

Read more »


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