91Èȱ¬

(. The band aren't in it. Radical!)

I would really like to be able to report that the time spent creating the Gossip's comeback hit has been a flurry of sonic re-invention and radical idea-tennis. These are, after all, clever people. And yet, when it comes down to it, there's nothing here apart from a fattened bottom-end (careful, she doesn't like those kind of jokes) to mark this out as a new song from the band.

The key line is "we can play it safe, or play it cool". An odd claim, given that ever since 'Standing In The Way Of Control' first broke through, the band, and Beth and particular, have done both of these things and very little else. Friend of Kate Moss or not, you can't be an outsider and an insider at the same time, no matter where you come from.

Oh sure, they do huffy interviews (when they actually do DO interviews) and the media did have a hard time working out what to do with a fat singer who wouldn't blush and cry and go on a diet and then release a workout video. So in that sense, yes, they've been an edgy presence.

There again, as far as the tabloids are concerned, there's not much to choose between Beth Ditto and Susan Boyle, except Susan Boyle wears more, and isn't as grumpy. So it's arguable that their message isn't really getting through.

All in all, not a good time to release a song which threatens to break into the chorus of their one really good song, or a chorus equally as good, but entirely fails to do so.

Download: Out now
CD Released: June 1st

91Èȱ¬ Music page

(Fraser McAlpine)

"If you're new to Gossip, think Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but with a lead singer that could make a snack of the actual lead singer."
"Ditto's vocals surely demonstrate this raw power they like so much."
Robots Made Me Do It says: "It's pretty decent by my reckoning"