WORTH A LOOK?: ****

OUT: now

Both Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga have enjoyed rapturously received returns to releasing music in 2020 during a curious pandemic period when their euphoric and uplifting dance albums have proved just the tonic that the world is looking for.

• Read on for reasons including everything we know about Kylie’s new album Disco

Die-hard fans hoped that Kylie’s first new single since 2018 album Golden marked her 50th year would save summer and we can report that while Say Something isn’t quite the immediate dancefloor bop of, say 2000 chart topper Spinning Around which relaunched her career, it is an acquired taste.

Think the chugging synths of (we think) Queen’s Radio Gaga reimagined by a team of writers (including Kylie herself) who have credits for, amongst others, the Spice Girls, East 17 and One Direction, with the shimmer of Kylie’s own I Believe In You and you’re within touching distance.

On first listen we were convinced it wouldn’t be Kylie’s 8th UK number one, her last was Slow in 2003, but it’s well worth more of your time than that and on repeat the promise of its guitar hook, breathy vocals and dancefloor shimmy bodes well for that 15th studio album titled Disco out 6/11/20.

Given that Golden topped the charts in April when sales aren’t at their highest, a November release date for that album is bold because there’s often a lot of competition for attention. It also means that we should expect at least one more single before the album’s release.

We’ve seen Kylie live nine times in London since her first main Enjoy Yourself tour in 1990 at the now-no-more London Arena and a definite highlight was a surprise appearance during a triumphant Hurts set at 02 Brixton Academy in 2011.

She hasn’t had a top 40 UK hit since Dancing two-and-a-half years ago and was last top 3 with the sublime All The Lovers in 2010. Say Something is a surefooted sign that she’s capable of adding to her 5 number one albums and we can’t wait for her to tour again having not seen her since a less extravagant arena show than normal at The 02 in 2014.

• Picture via Facebook courtesy Kylie Minogue Tickets
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