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.

The bad news is that we’re not getting new Florrie tunes until 2012.

The good news is that Florrie felt pretty bad about it, so she’s just released a remix of her track “Begging Me”–for free!

Just as she’s done with all her past releases, the incredibly giving, thoroughly amazing former Xenomania house drummer has unleashed the Fred Falke remix as a free download (and also on iTunes worldwide if you’d like to help support her!) for fans.

From Florrie’s official website:

I know I’ve kept you waiting for new music, but once I knew I wasn’t going to finish any new material and release it by the end of November, I knew it was better to wait until the new year and avoid all the Xmas madness!

BUT… to thank you for all of your patience and support , I’ve decided to release the FRED FALKE special remix of ‘Begging Me’! I’ve had it in my iTunes for a while and now seems like the perfect time to get it out there. You can listen and download the remix below, or even buy on iTunes. I hope you like it! To go with Fred’s mix, I’ve also put together a little video of some of the best bits of my year, out very, very soon…

In case you missed it earlier this June, “Begging Me” was released as part of Florrie’s brilliant Experiments EP, which I absolutely loved (and still do). Disco pop perfection at its finest!

Falke’s take on the track only brings it deeper into disco territory, providing a delicious French House lick of synth pulsations and throbbing beats. It’s truly a fire hot remix–so grab it NOW!

One to watch for 2012? Most definitely.

DL: Florrie – Begging Me (Fred Falke Remix)

“Begging Me (Fred Falke Remix)” was released on December 14. (iTunes)

Meet Catcall.

Née Catherine Kelleher, the Australian chanteuse released her first single, “Swimming Pool,” last year to rave reviews. “Swimming Pool” is an uncanny slice of Italo disco-referencing indie dance in the vein of Sally Shapiro or the Golden Filter; the track was helmed by GLOVES, the producer who has remixed fellow down-under acts like Bag Raiders, Van She, and Kimbra.

Now, Catcall’s ratcheted up the pop on her new single, “Satellites,” a pounding piece of ‘80s nostalgia with a melodically potent chorus that invites comparisons to Ladyhawke and I Blame Coco. “Maybe we are satellites/Maybe we are meteors,” she sings over layers of melancholy guitars and resonant drums.

I first heard a clip of “Satellites” during an episode of 90210 way back in May (yes, I watch 90210; yes, I know it’s an execrable show; no, I don’t care), but it’s only just being released now — and it was well worth the wait. “Satellites” has the same kind of reflective, downbeat energy as a Xenomania ballad, with a luminous spaced-out quality that’s both referential and futuristic. Basically, it’s synth-spangled gorgeousness that’s already one of my favorite tracks this year — and it bodes extraordinarily well for her debut album, The Warmest Place, due out at the top of 2012 via Ivy League.

Take a listen below:

Catcall – Satellites by rosequartzblog

“Satellites” was released on October 14. (iTunes)

After adding “bad girl” to their CV with “Notorious” and making the party super naughty on the hot, hot, hot “All Fired Up,” the lovely ladies known collectively as The Saturdays have decided to take the BPM down a few notches with “My Heart Takes Over,” the third single from their upcoming studio album.

The Sats’ latest is a surging power ballad, not at all unlike your standard Leona Lewis/Ryan Tedder production circa 3 years ago (a la “Bleeding Love”). “‘Cause if there’s a chance we might have missed / And if there’s a ray of light in this / Baby you should know that this is where my heart takes over,” the girl powerfully chant during the chorus.

Overall it’s a good song–a fine song even, if not largely unadventurous (especially when compared to the edgier past two single offerings from this era.) Still, as an incredibly radio-friendly production, “My Heart Takes Over” nearly guarantees that the girls are about to have another smash hit single on their hands when released on November 14.

In the meantime, the video for the song will be shot later this week…in Iceland. Perhaps we can expect some Björkian undertones? Probably not, but I can always hold out hope to see Una dancing with a cat one day.

Also released today? The long-awaited details about the Sats’ upcoming third studio album, which has been titled On Your Radar: The album is out on November 21, and will feature production by Space Cowboy, Steve Mac, David Eriksen, Brian Higgins (Xenomania), as well as a feature by Travie McCoy. Yum, yum!

“My Heart Takes Over” will be released on November 14. (iTunes)

Holy Mollie Moly!

Above is the fan-flipping-tastic cover art for “My Heart Takes Over,” The Saturdays‘ brand new single. Serving some serious Girls Aloud Chemistry/Tangled Up-era realness here!

According to the group’s official website, “My Heart” Takes Over” will premiere tomorrow morning (Thursday) at 8:15 A.M. on Radio 1’s Chris Moyles Breakfast Show.

Their last single–the unbelievably amazing Xenomania/Space Cowboy/MNEK-produced “All Fired Up”–managed to clock in at #3 on the UK Singles Chart. Will their next song be another everything-but-the-kitchen-sink producer’s affair? Will it be just as hot, hot fire? We’ll just have to wait and see!

You can now pre-order the single at The Sat’s official store, which will include a B-side penned by the girls: “So Stupid.”

While we wait for tomorrow, let’s get all fired up once again!

“My Heart Takes Over” will be released on November 13. (iTunes UK)

The fine, fit lads of UK boy band The Wanted are back with a brand new single.

“Lightning,” the third offering from their as-of-yet untitled sophomore release due out on November 7, was produced by constant collaborator Steve Mac (“Glad You Came,” “All Time Low”) and will premiere in full today on Capital FM (with a video to follow on September 23).

“Lightning” is an instant pop gem, packed full of infectious melodies and hooks. Like “Glad You Came,” the band’s latest finds the boys darting straight for the dance floor for a punchy, strings ‘n’ synth filled electro-pop stormer: “I know that it’s a little bit frightening / We might as well be playing with lightning,” the boys cry out on the chorus. Does any other modern boy band do it better?

Perhaps Steve Mac is to The Wanted as Xenomania is to Girls Aloud: A surefire smash collaboration every single time.

Now just head stateside already, boys! You’ll be glad you came. Trust me. Especially you, Max.

“Lightning” will be released on October 30. (iTunes UK)

In late May, UK pop quintet The Saturdays released their Top 10 hit “Notorious,” the lead single from their as-of-yet untitled third studio album.

Filled with faux-tough girl taunts (“My resume says I’m a bad girl”) and strut-friendly (if not slightly cheap) electro stabs, “Notorious” separated itself from the rest of the electro-pop pack with its brilliant blue-baller of a chorus: A soaring moment of echoed cries that brought listeners to the brink of a seemingly massive beat drop–only to immediately retreat into the next verse.

And while “Notorious” flourished from its big, brilliant non-chorus structure, The Saturdays’ brand new offering, “All Fired Up,” seems to be packed full of nothing but choruses and hook-heavy bridges: “All fired up and I feel alive!” the girls cry out above the song’s rave-ready beats–arguably some of their most relentlessly club-ready material to date.

According to a press release for the single, “All Fired Up” was co-scribed by a stunning dream team of pop producers, including Space Cowboy, Brian Higgins and Miranda Cooper (Xenomania) and 16-year-old boy wonder, MNEK.

While “All Fired Up” is not quite as classic or hard-hitting as any of its producers’ best work, the song still contains all their signature styles, including the instant infectiousness of Space Cowboy’s dance-pop (ex. Lady Gaga‘s “Just Dance”) and the cutting, mile-a-minute hookcraft of Xenomania (ex. Girls Aloud‘s “Biology”).

From the pulsing, hypnotic Calvin Harris-meets-Benny Benassi-lite beats to the ear-worm hooks (“I put my head against the speakers…”), “All Fired Up” is one of the band’s best, most unbelievably re-playable moments yet–nearly guaranteed to send The Saturdays hurtling toward the top of the UK Singles Chart when it sees release in the first week of September.

Then again, with fellow UK troupe Sugababes releasing their exceptional new single “Freedom” in the same week…

I suppose Brooke Valentine said it best: It’s about to be a (WHAT?) A girl fight!

“All Fired Up” will be released on September 4. (iTunes UK)

The greatest part about the rapidly globalizing state of the music industry is that, thanks to the the Internet, music lovers worldwide have the ability to indulge in popular music from far-off territories while developing a strong kinship with fellow fans. The downfall, of course, is that no one else around you knows who the fuck you’re talking about.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you haven’t already: Meet Nadine Coyle.

Nadine is best known as one-fifth of a girl group called Girls Aloud.

A super slick, super chic powerhouse quintet originally formed during a UK reality singing competition called Popstars: The Rivals, the Almighty Aloud ruled the UK charts from 2002 to 2009 with their unique brand of edgy, glam pop cultivated and mastered by arguably the greatest pop writing and production troupe of all time, Xenomania.

From kicky drum & bass cuts (“Sound Of The Underground”) to lush disco gems (“Call The Shots”), the Aloud’s chart reign is–pardon the pun–untouchable, having already garnered over 20 Top 10 singles in a row (a Guinness World Record), five platinum selling albums (not to mention a greatest hits collection that went platinum thrice over), and legions of fans the world over. You know, like myself.

On Thursday evening, I somehow found myself sitting down on a bench, outside on a patio in a gorgeous Chelsea loft, with an eager Nadine Coyle sitting directly next to me. “You’ll have to forgive me, I’m trying to keep it together,” I said, nervously fumbling at my phone to start recording. “Oh, yar so togaythur,” she reassured me with her thick Derry accent, adding with a smile: “Ay would have no aydeyuh!”

As I looked down at my barely legible notes where scattered thoughts like “‘Graffiti My Soul’/Britney connection?” and “How are the Mist Burgers at Nadine’s Irish Mist?!” were frantically scribbled and squished together, I could only think to myself: What is my life right now?

Read more »