WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Tracklist: Relentless Love; Vertigo; Taste; Stay On Me; Dolce Vita; Time; Glamorous; Freedom Of The Night; Layers; Diamond In The Dark; Heart Sing; Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til It’s Gone

Welcome to Ellis Bextor’s 8th studio album and 1st since Murder On The Dancefloor became an international hit for the 2nd time after its memorable inclusion in Emerald Fennell’s film Saltburn.

• Read on for reasons including how Only Murders In The Building star Selena Gomez features

Ellis Bextor says: ‘I turned 46 last month and I’m enjoying getting older. I’m feeling more excited than ever about the music I’m making, and believe me when I say that is a GREAT feeling! It’s thanks to many things, not least the women that went before me and the women who will follow.

‘I’ve been singing for 30 years now – I know! – and throughout my career I’ve been lucky enough to happily play with many music genres, but my heart beats the fastest for pop. This album is a celebration of that relationship. In fact, it’s a celebration of lots of things, including being the age I’m at and still having so many adventures and so much fun!

‘Perimenopop is an album that’s intention is to bring you joy; it’s fun, it’s bold and it’s playful. I had this incredible feeling while I was writing it, that I didn’t have to try to be anyone else. I could just head towards what excited me and what excited those I was working with. She’s a disco-pop optimistic record and my intention was to bring a little more pep to your step with all the songs.’

We’ve appreciated some of her darker work in recent years but this feels like an opportunity to give fans more of the fun in the vein of hit reissue Murder.

Highlight for us is the summer joy of Dolce Vita (watch and listen above) although album opener Relentless Love is a strong example of the dancefloor-based, positive vibes and good times encapsulated here.

Ellis Bextor’s husband and co-producer Richard Jones, from The Feeling, says: ‘This album is pure disco pop-timism and it makes me dance no matter what mood I’m in.’

There’s even a Selena Gomez co-write of which Ellis Bextor says: ‘Stay On Me! It’s a flirtatious and nonchalant bop about choosing your person to take you home again and again because you only have eyes for each other.’ 

Our favourite Norwegian pop star Sigrid, who releases her own 3rd album next month, has co-writing credits on tracks Glamourous and Heart Sing while Nile Rodgers has a pen on Diamond In The Dark with long-time Ellis Bextor collaborator Ed Harcourt.

It’s when Ellis Bextor tries to bring a little more thought to the pop joy on the album’s later tracks that they convince a little less.

But, overall, this fine collection shows Ellis Bextor’s dancing shoes still fit nicely and Perimenopop feels utterly and unashamedly authentic to her right now.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy Sophie Ellis Bextor Tickets
• Have you seen a Sophie Ellis Bextor show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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