GOSSIP

Real Power (Sony)

Gossip’s first album in 12 years has been highly anticipated since the November release of single Crazy Again – the sweetest, catchiest song of last year. At its best, Real Power brings together pop, indie and disco, with their punk convictions intact, each track stamped with Beth Ditto’s unmistakably punchy vocals and polished by Rick Rubin’s production. There’s a handful of neatly packaged pop hits, simple yet effective, delivering that satisfying balance between repetition and variation.

Standout tracks Don’t Be Afraid and Edge Of The Sun are peppered with small yet brilliant details— squelchy synths, Nile Rodgers-esque guitars, sleek basslines, soulful backing vocals and melodic ornaments. The cowbells on Give It Up For Love deserve an honourable mention too. It is an album of two halves though; well-crafted, foot-tapping earworms are offset by undulating ballads like Turn The Card Slowly, which sounds more like The xx than Gossip in its reverb-laden ambience. 

words ROSANNA LEWIS