Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Starlight

Sophie Ellis-Bextor's new album has been a long time in the coming. But new single Starlight comes like a seal of quality, assuring that the wait will be more than worth it. With its beautiful, flowing feel and Pet Shop Boys-esque synth bassline, the song is every inch the picturesque, tranquil night-time scene its title depicts.

While perhaps not as instant as previous singles Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer and Bittersweet, the chorus holds strong and the track as a whole is musically far more intricate. Starlight holds real value for repeat listens, new treasures surfacing from the overlapping wave-like layers of its depths each time.

There's some definite New Order vibes here, as if Sophie made a conscious effort to produce Starlight as her ode to the eighties. The middle-eight in particular sounds as if it could have come straight off New Order's 1993 Republic album with its oh-so delicate touches of guitar.

Starlight is a crystaline thing of beauty, the lovely 'we found heaven in the dark' lyrics in the chorus channeling that effortless style and class that Sophie has always done so well. True pop queen glamour.

Starlight is released on the 30th May.

The Pierces - You'll Be Mine

The Pierces’ Love You More EP was one of my favourite collections of tracks from last year so I approached their new single with a little trepidation, not sure if they’d ever be able to live up to their previous glories. Thankfully though, their new single You’ll Be Mine allays all fears. It’s stunning. Again, love provides the theme for the girls’ folksy, poppy hybrid sound.

There’s a beautiful sun-kissed Balearic feel to the song; it speaks of long blazing days in the Mediterranean sun, and even longer nights relaxing on the beach as the waves rush into the shore. There’s touches of New Order’s classic Republic album here and more than a dash of Empire of the Sun’s We Are The People. Driven by a tuneful acoustic strum and delightful music-box-esque sparkle, the melodies are spot on, with a charming little refrain that will stick right in your head. As with the Love You More, this is utterly bewitching, demanding constant repeat listens.

You’ll Be Mine is released on 7^th March.