Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 05/12/005
Label: Polydor

It's not enough to say - as many, quite reasonably, do - that Girls Aloud's success is entirely down to their 18 carat songwriting team Xenomania. There has to be more to it - Xenomania, after all, write for Sugababes and Texas too, but only Girls Aloud get to touch their really special stuff. The stuff they keep in bubble wrap out the back. Why? Are their other clients on the blower right now demanding an explanation? We must surmise the Girls are either paying more; are exceptionally lovely, spellbinding personalities who coax the best out of everyone they share a platter of corporate sandwiches with; or are just brilliant performers who could make a Gregorian chant sound like a burlesque turn. Or all three.

"Chemistry" is as devilish and quirky and downright uplifting as anything else released by anyone this year. It certainly makes the year's other pop highlights, namely those by Madonna and Goldfrapp, feel leaden, humourless and old - it's almost a Gorillaz album. Glumsters, forget the old accusation always levelled at pop: there's nary a 'formula' in sight. There are as many sudden tonal and tempo switches as the tricksiest Chicago art rock band. And all but one song here gives guitars a starring role.

Nowhere do they lose their footing. "Models" is a dig at the sort of witless stud muffin who'll only date clothes horses - a much belated riposte to Duran Duran's "Girls On Film" with a "Material Girl" rhythm. "Biology" builds a euphoric, foot-stamping whirlwind around a classic blues piano riff. "Wild Horses" features a mock choirgirl intro segueing into a breezy acoustic-rocker ("Get out of town / And take your lazy dog with you"), like a harder St Etienne. Long lost 1985 Dee C Lee ballad "See The Day" is given a glossy 21st century refurb and - according to the bookies - a Christmas Number One slot.

The deliciously slutty "Watch Me Go" ("Quarter past two I was dressed in red / Tied up to your bed") features rapping - and they're good! - and fades out with an, erm, 'homage' to Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps". "Swinging London Town" is astonishing: a dark, squiggly synth pop epic a la Pet Shop Boys on the diverse characters - from wannabes to trustafarians - found in the nation's capital, while "Racy Lacey" is a portrait song of a young lady in the style of Prince's "Darling Nikki" or Blur's "Tracey Jacks". Phew.

One thing's for sure: the end of Girls Aloud will not necessarily be signalled by Nadine, Sarah, Kimberley, Nicola, Cheryl, or Louis Walsh. If Xenomania ever sail off into the sunset we'll all be marooned.

    by Anna Britten