Back catalogue: Pop

Review: Lockdown Records has put together this useful new 12" which offers up the notorious duo of Matt Early & Lee Jeffries. 'Fighting for Your Life' is a classic pop single that comes with the electrifying Blood on the Dancefloor Mix and the sultry After Dark Mix, both of which are inspired by the iconic sounds of Michael Jackson. They make for effective dancefloor weapons that come with a hint of nostalgia and plenty of weighty grooves.

Review: George Michael's Careless Whisper 40th Anniversary Edition on CD is a nostalgic treasure for fans of one of pop's quintessential anthems. Released in 1984, the track's lush saxophone riff and Michael's emotive vocals made it an instant classic, topping charts worldwide and becoming a (slow) dancefloor staple. This commemorative CD presents four versions of the iconic song: the newly remastered original, an extended mix that amplifies its steamy appeal, a previously unreleased live performance from Madison Square Garden capturing its live charm and an instrumental version that highlights its exquisite musicality. While Michael himself was critical of the track's lyrical simplicity, viewing it as a minor achievement compared to his other work, the song's enduring appeal remains undeniable. This edition celebrates its lasting impact with a collection that offers fans both a trip down memory lane and a deeper appreciation of its musical legacy.

Review: As those following the music press (or what's left of it) will be aware, Megan Thee Stallion has been through a lot in recent years, with the Houston rapper's ascent to global superstardom being accompanied by struggles with grief and betrayal. It's perhaps not surprising, then, that her fourth album, MEGAN, is particularly spiky - both lyrically and musically - with the Texan responding to personal set backs by lashing out at online culture, perceived rivals, former collaborators (yes, Charli XCX does not escape criticism), and "sad girl shit". It not only confirms her place as a top-tier rapper - her lyrics are frequently b breathtakingly brilliant and jaw-dropping in their no-holds-barred intensity - but also one happy to do her thing over decidedly weighty beats, sub-heavy basslines and surprisingly minimalistic arrangements. A triumph, as expected.

Review: On her 2023 album Tension, Queen of Pop Kyle Minogue leant into dance music culture in a big way, delivering a set of bold, weighty and throbbing dance-pop singalongs rooted in EDM, Euro-dance and the more boisterous and forthright end of LGBTQ club culture (a theme that has been a significant part of her musical output from the earliest days of her career in the 1980s). As a sequel, Tension II is similarly framed - think catchy, effects-laden vocals, trance-adjacent synth stabs, bustling beats and plenty of nods to club sounds old and new. There are a few collaborations, too, most notably with The Blessed Madonna ('The Edge of Saturday Night'), Sia ('Dance Again'), and Orville Peck and Diplo ('Midnight Ride').