It's been a long, long time since B*witched ruled the singles charts (about 15, in fact), but the twins, Keavy and Edele Lynch, are back with a new album, off the back of two single releases, in an effort to reclaim a place at the top of the charts. After all, they were the first girl band to have four consecutive No. 1 singles.
And the comeback singles weren't half bad, all electropoppy and dancey, complete with a slightly silly image revamp (imagine GaGa meets Noel Fielding). They made the album with producer Yoad Nevo, whose done time with Sugababes, Sophie Ellis Bextor and the Pet Shop Boys. And let's not forget that Edele wrote songs, along with Xenomania for Girls Aloud and Sugababes. So, there's plenty of poptastic experience at work here.
And for the most part, it's good stuff. The music fits snugly into a late ere Britney meets Lady GaGa electropop vibe, something that the singles, 'Body Rock' and 'Night Mode' indicated would be the case. There are another couple of single possibilities as well, with the splendid 'Turn Me On', the best of them, along with the big ballad, 'Kiss From A Ghost'. And if GaGa fans get a hold of 'Big', they'll end up very moist indeed.
However, there are a few clunkers along for the ride as well, with `Faith In Me', a dire ballad, and 'Tip It' is dreadful. They break up the flow of the album, and do sound like less good versions of songs you've already heard. But factor in good Scandipop tunes like 'The Idea', and there are more good points than bad points.
If this was an album by a new band, they'd be getting plenty of plaudits, but in a world of build them up, knock them down, it's going to be an uphill struggle for Barbarellas.