by Mikey (Gillingham, Kent, UK) - Each week I preview an album which I think deserves a listen to and if it's worth to buy, I will cater for all tastes of music from R'n'B to Rock, Hip hop and Pop. At the end of the page, you will find all future album releases.
Kylie Minogue - Body language
Release Date: 17 November 2003
Everybody likes Kylie. Even the people who pretend not to secretly swirl around their bedsits to 'Can't Get You Out of My Head' like the rest of us. And the news of any pending Kylie album is greeted with a kind of unreserved joy as the world prepares to revel in another perfectly chiselled exercise in pop perfection. Naturally, the 'Body Language' album is exactly what you'd expect from twenty-first century Kylie inasmuch as beneath every other track on the set there's a kind of subversive undertow. Whether it's Kraftwerk-ian electro distraction or harking back to the days of Sex Kylie (and often both), 'Body Language' takes the public face of pop and turns it into a hypnotic trance of late nite disco with its very own hidden depths.
The great thing about a new Kylie album is that you can use all the age-old clich�s. So expect a glob of 'pop rocket' and 'diminutive pop princess' references in every review. That may be predictable, but this album is not. 'Fever' was a non-stop dance monster, but look elsewhere if you were hoping for another dozen versions of "Can't Get You Out Of My Head". They aren't here. But if the beguiling surprise appeal of "Slow" hits the mark, then read on.
In this, her ninth studio album, she has seemingly come full circle. She was spawned in the 80's, and much of 'Body Language' has the funky pop feel of that era - yet a sharp genre jump from "I Should Be So Lucky". If updated 20-year-old funk is your bag, then you'll have a field day here. "Promises" and "Obsession" both have a polished, wriggling, oak-aged-funk feel, aided by long time electro producer Curtis Mantronik. Good ones. "I Feel For You" isn't the Chaka Khan track, though it could have come from the same album.
Although this is not full-frontal disco, she has kept it primarily upbeat again. The main exception is the string-drenched; Massive Attack influenced "Loving Days". The most understated track, and the fine contrast makes it really stand out. See, she can slip back into romantic mode, without regurgitating tacky old Kylie and Jason territory. She even ropes in Green Gartside (ex. Scritti Politti) for a few distinctive vocals on "Someday". A nice touch which maintains the retro throwback.
It's a particularly bold move to resist the temptation to create 'Fever II - The Sequel'. She's broadened her array of writers and producers, and only the final track is written by Cathy Dennis - the 80's star whose catchy writing helped make 'Fever' the massive hit that it was. (6 million copies and counting.) "After Dark" is more dreamy wine bar Chardonnay than disco bubbles. Karen Poole (Alisha's Attic) contributes three tunes, including the very Mary Jane Girls styled, lazy trumpet highlighted, "Chocolate". Deliciously groovy. "Secret" is low down dirty funky, but ripe for an even tastier single remix. (Please drop the Kylie rap though.) "Sweet Music" also has a pleasing deep underground groove, but doesn't go far enough. "Still Standing" is a weak B-side that shouldn't have made the cut.
Kylie as a sexy, seductive stocking filler is a dream for many, and a natural cash crop for a pleading, bleeding industry, but was this 'product' rushed out too quickly? A little more time in the vat wouldn't have gone amiss, as some funked up extra eye-liner tweaking would have been a big enhancement for a better identity. No it's not bad at all, and her mass appeal will make this a best seller no matter what, but it is missed potential not crowning triumph.
'Fever' may not have had much soul, but that omission was more than made up for by effusive, infectious energy. Who cared about the cheese quotient, the big beats were ample compensation. It was fun, and the Kylie that we all knew and loved. She excelled in that role of disco queen 2 years ago, but is now standing down those spray-on hotpants and venturing into vaguer adult territory again. 'Body Language' is less immediate and more tentative.
Whispered vocals reduce the sing-a-long factor, and in leaving that behind, she's negated her real strength. No, she's not gone arty on us again, and there is still a prevalent funky groove, but it is more like Beyonce might have sounded if she was doing her thang in 1985. The Indie-Kylie makeover didn't work so well in the 90's, so she's left with the problem of being pigeonholed the disco queen that everyone else wants, or the 'respected artist' that seems to be her Pinocchio's real life desire. But maybe fairy tales do come true - even for a 'diminutive pop rocket princess with double inverted commas'.
10/10
Tracklisting
1 Slow
2 Still Standing
3 Secret (I take you home)
4 Promises
5 Sweet Music
6 Red Blooded Woman
7 Chocolate
8 Obsession
9 I Feel For You
10 Someday
11 Loving Days
12 After Dark
Album Release Schedule
December 1
D-Side - Real World
Will Young - Friday's Child
December 8
Alicia Keys - The Diary Of Alicia Keys
With Xmas round the corner not many artists are releasing new material after December 8th, new album releases will resume at the end of January 2004.
