Fortuna POP!

Released September 6, 2010



After releasing their fabulous, 60s pop-influenced debut album in 2006, The Pipettes had to suffer the duo indignities of multiple line-up changes and being all-but-forgotten by a fickle pop public. Now fronted by sisters Gwenno and Ali Saunders, the group is finally back with this second album and a new sound which looks towards disco for its inspiration. And when we say disco, we certainly don’t mean the revived cool status now enjoyed by the kind of obscure nuggets which get an airing on compilations by Strut. No, we’re talking the unabashed high-camp likes of ‘Feels Like I’m in Love’ by Kelly Marie and the daffy pop majesty of early Jackson 5.

Earth Vs. The Pipettes is an album that goes for the pop jugular right from the foghorn sound that kicks off first track ‘Call Me’, a song which features a chorus so effortlessly sparkling The Saturdays would gladly kill their nans to sing it. Elsewhere, we get candyfloss melodies, funky guitar and tongue-in-cheek melodrama on album highlights ‘I Vibe You’ (“Let’s turn this mother into a party!” indeed), ‘Ain’t No Talking’ and the wonderfully titled ‘Our Love Was Saved by Spacemen’. However, the standout track is without question 'Thank You', a fantastic song which has the cheek not only to rip off Leona Lewis' 'Bleeding Love' but be approximately a squillion times better.

Unfortunately, much of the rest of the album sounds rather overworked and overproduced; as if the band were worried they wouldn’t get a shot at a third album and so chucked all their ideas into one pot without checking it worked. ‘Need a Little Time’ would certainly sound better without the cheesy nineties disco keyboard sound slathered all over it, while ‘Captain Rhythm’ strays way too far into naffness and can’t find its way back. Meanwhile, songs like ‘History’ and ‘Stop the Music’ are so breathless and frantic, their great melodies are lost in the rush to produce another big pop chorus. What Earth Vs. The Pipettes really needs are some quieter, more subtle moments to counterbalance all that sugary, Technicolor disco. You can’t help hoping The Pipettes get the chance to produce the more cohesive third album they’re no doubt capable of.

Posted In Album Reviews, Jun 19 2010. Words - Richard