Make a scene: Review

MAKE A SCENE (2011, EBGB RECORDS)

Three albums, four years of recording and delays, and five singles later, Sophie Ellis-Bextor has returned with one of the most anticipated albums of the year - "Make a scene"; collaborating with the cream of pop-dance producers including voted #1 DJ of the world Armin Van Buuren, chart toppers Calvin Harris and Freemasons, that incredibly talented Joe Mount of Metronomy and God himself - Richard X. Of course, there are a few regulars here - Greg Kurstin, Liam Howe of Sneaker Pimps and Dimitri Tikovoi; and a surprise collaboration with Fred Ball... So does this make the album a generic and manufactured one - NO!

The album opens with a bang (literally - "bang, bang, it’s a hold up"). Revolution, the album opener, has Sophie attempting a monotone delivery for the second time in her career (check the middle-8 from "Making Music", Shoot from the Hip). The chorus is simple, repetitive and arresting; the "army" hook is catchy. Cathy Dennis, who worked with Sophie on her last top 10 hit Catch You (which was also a Denis/Kurstin collaboration), co-wrote the song - and in fact, came up with the self-referencing line in the song (the line in the bridge - "face to face its murder on the dancefloor"). Revolution is highly energetic and frenetic, but is very short. It feels like the song is in a hurry to be done and introduce what seems to be Sophie's best album yet. (9/10)

All those cymbal crashes in Revolution lead to this big crash in the very beginning of track two. Bittersweet is a song produced by Freemasons and Biffco. The song was Sophie's second single off the album, but failed to set the charts on fire. Nonetheless, it received an overwhelmingly good response from her fan-base and went on to become the Song of the Day on PopJustice. It even kept Sophie on top of the PJ Almighty for what seemed like an eternity. Bittersweet is enthralling - with flawless production sampling bits from "Fade to Grey" by Visage and "Blue Monday" by New Order; the song even draws influences from "You Spin Me Around (Like a Record)" by Dead or Alive. Sophie effortlessly mews over the production. The meandering melody in the chorus, the cut-up vocals in the middle-8, the whispering bits and that incredible close to the chorus (the heavenly "oh-oh-oh-so here I am" bit) - all these make Bittersweet the ultimate pop/dance song that most solo female acts would kill for. To sum up, the song is a modern classic. (10/10)

Off And On, the planned-to be-sixth single off the album, is the first of the two songs with no lyrical contribution by La Bex. Originally written and demo-ed for Roisin Murphy's 2007 album, 'Overpowered', the song was handed over to Sophie to promote the then-planned Greatest Hits compilation. Fortunately, recording sessions proved fruitful and now we have the 4th album instead. Off And On is a commercial electro-pop number, which has been edited since its original premiere on Sophie's MySpace several years ago. Could this be the first top ten single from the album - I sincerely hope so, but only commercial radio can give this song the exposure it deserves. (9/10)

Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) was also made to promote the GH compilation. The original demo is significantly different from the final mix that was released as a mutual single by Freemasons and Sophie back in 2009. The song charted just outside the top 10, but stands as the highest charted single from the album (in the UK) and has become one of her most popular songs since Murder on the Dancefloor. Described as electro-dance monster, the song will have you moving along to the loud synths and the big beats. This song, along with Bittersweet, proves that the Bex Monster and Freemasons are a match made in pop heaven. The Freemasons have always had brilliant and glittery production on their songs; their two songs on this album are no different. Their production brings out the emotion and drama in Sophie's voice - something that is absent in your regular commercial dance songs (yes Guetta, I'm talking about you) (9.5/10)

Not Giving Up On Love, the fourth single off the album, is a trance song, with a simple piano loop, great synths, some live drums thrown in here and there and, of course, Sophie's ever-so lush vocals. Miss E.B. is no stranger to melancholic melodies - what some fans consider her forte. The song is a collaboration with Armin Van Buuren, who is the voted #1 DJ of the world. The song was a big success in several countries across Europe but had no impact on the UK Charts. Vocal trance is a new field for Sophie, and I look forward to more trance DJ-collaborations in the future. The full length club edit is so much better than the hurriedly edited radio version, but you simply cannot have a 6+ minute trance track in the middle a pop album - still, it is worth listening to. (10/10)

The next song, Can't Fight This Feeling, is a collaboration with upcoming French DJ Junior Caldera. This is his biggest success across Europe, and in fact the song got a lot of attention from Sophie's fanbase in Russia and some other countries across Europe. On my first listen, both track 5 and 6 stuck out like a sore thumb. The song isn't bad at all. It is very commercial sounding, very 2009-10. Its weird because her songs almost never sound 'current'. Its very hit or miss really. I liked the song a lot when it was released as a single before Bittersweet, but the shine has worn off now. Sophie has recently written another track with Junior Caldera. Lets hope that song sees the light of the day in some form. (7/10)

If I have to sum up the next song in one word, I would only say "heavenly". Starlight, produced by Richard X *screams* is straight out of the 80's. Starlight is released as the 5th (overall) single from the album, the 4th in the UK. You can watch the video, directed by her father, Robin Bextor, right here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDlkxDu06OU

The song has a melancholic feeling, and is slightly ethereal and lush. This is definitely one of the best songs on the album. I'd love for Sophie to work with Richard X *screams* again. Starlight is positioned in the perfect place - and feels refreshing to listen to after 6 dance songs that play back-to-back! You don't know what heaven feels like until you have heard this song. Everything from the slick production and the poetic lyrics to the lush vocals are perfect. One thing that will really grab your attention is the almost-Madonna-esque middle-8; "We are one". (10/10)

Sophie performed Under Your Touch last year on the Album Charts Show and I was really looking forward to listening to the studio version of the song. It is produced by long time collaborator Liam Howe of the Sneaker pimps. The song begins with eeire strings, which brings to mind Madonna's "Sorry". The song has a very busy production, with loads of sounds building up as the song progresses. Sophie sounds fantastic. The mechanised vocals in the song were a nice surprise. It might sound slightly filler-ish on the first listen, but after a couple of listens, the song grows on you, and you tend to put this into a long list of songs that should be singles. (8.5/10)

The title track, Make A Scene, is unlike anything that she has ever done before. The song begins with some clunky notes and a strange beat, and soon builds into this really bouncy jam. The chorus is phenomenal and has Sophie screaming "come on now" as she makes a scene. The almost spoken verses, the saxophone, the really weird drum sequence that sounds a little off-track in the first few seconds, Sophie screaming in some places - in theory this will seem like one of the worst ideas ever. But it all comes together so well - everything feels so disjoint, but at the same time, its all very 'together'. One must give sufficient credit to Joseph Mount, of Metronomy, who helped co-write and co-produce this song. You can definitely hear some 'Nights Out' influences in this song. You might even say that this song sounds like something off Roisin Murphy's 'Ruby Blue' album, crossed with production by Basement Jaxx (now that is a collaboration that should happen!). I'd love to see more Sophie-Metronomy songs in the future.(10/10)

Magic is the second of the two Richard X *screams* songs on the album. The song is, as the title suggests, magical. It begins with simple "ooh ooh"s and builds up into this 80's influenced, scratch that, 80's epic. A simple-but-massive chorus takes centre stage; the production really brings out the best in Sophie's voice. I'm a sucker for anything Richard X *screams*, but this has to be one of his best productions. Lyrically, the song is very poetic, much like Starlight. The middle-8 contains whispers again. Sophie brought whispers back in fashion - I'm not even sure if whispers went out of fashion, but I'd love to give Sophie credit for putting whispers on two (thats right, TWO) songs on the album. Well done Sophie. Well done Hannah. Richard X *screams*, I salute you! (10/10)

The next song is a historic moment in pop music (or so I think, don't burst my bubble). Sophie is probably the only popstar in the world to have used the word "politicise" in a song. And as a fan from PopJustice once said, she is also, probably, the only popstar in the world to have written an electro-pop number about a text stalker. Now THIS is your quirky pop song. The almost story-like lyrics describe Sophie's attitude toward her text stalker. One line in particular - "when you're lost at sea, I'm on land" - is like a slap-in-the-face-get-a-life type of situation. I love the general bitchy-ness about the song. Dial My Number is produced by Liam Howe and co-written with Hannah Robinson. The song, like the other Howe production, is very busy sounding, and quite loud. This was probably the most anticipated song on the album - and it could end up becoming a fan-favourite. (9/10)

Homewrecker is such an amazing-title for a pop song. You'd expect swearing and cursing on this song - but surprisingly, there's no swearing or cursing... or is there? The lyrics of the song are intentionally blunt, but also very witty. The “ho..ho..homewrecker” bit caught everyone by surprise. Its right there, she’s actually swearing, but its so wonderfully hidden beneath the apparent hook. Only Sophie Ellis-Bextor could swear and still sound so posh, take notes Ke$ha. The song is produced by Greg Kurstin, and has some similar production gimmics. The organ in the beginning of the song make this song seem almost-demented in some ways. Well done, Sophie, well done! (8.5/10)

Now is that point in the album when you're pretty much done with dancing and jumping around, and you just want to sit down and listen to some good pop music. And Sophie knows that. Synchronised, is the first of the two ballads on the album; the second song with no lyrical contribution by Sophie, and is truly immense. The song sounds very commercial - kinda like "If You Go"'s moody little sister. The song focuses on Sophie's vocal power, and that is, essentially, what makes this song a masterpiece. Sophie's vocals have never sounded this good and emotive. Here is solid proof against all those people who claim that Sophie cannot breathe life and emotion into a song - IN YOUR FACE, HATERS! (10/10)

Cut Straight To The Heart is the perfect close to a perfect album. The song features lyrical contribution by the infamous Ed Harcourt. Sophie sounds very vulnerable, and the general feeling and production of the song can be compared to one of her older songs from her second album - "I Am Not Good At Not Getting What I Want". The track has beautiful instrumentation, and also samples the drum sequence from Placebo's cover of "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)", which is also, not so surprisingly, produced by Dimitri. The song might be slightly over-shadowed by the amazing-ness of its predecessor, but is no less brilliant. Sophie finishes the album in style. (10/10)

If you haven't heard this album yet, you haven't really heard what good pop music sounds like. Sophie has once again proved that she truly deserves the title "Pop Goddess". Well done.

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS:
Bittersweet
Not Giving Up On Love
Starlight
Make A Scene
Magic
Synchronised
Cut Straight To The Heart

OVERALL RATING: 9.3/10. Plus, additional 0.7 for the brilliant artwork and photographs in the album, all the effort that has gone behind getting it finally out there. A solid 10/10 effort overall!


...yes, this is exactly how I feel about the release. Its finally here, and it is flawless. Make sure you legally purchase a copy (or two) of Make a scene.

Link to online sites where you can buy the album:
iTunes UK
Amazon
7Digital

Buy the CD from here:
Amazon
HMV
Play
Tesco

STARLIGHT *gasp*

So........ Starlight is going to be "out" soon. I want to get excited about this, but i think i'll wait and see what this is all about. Because U-Music Russia says Off And On will be her next single but PurplePR say that Starlight is coming soon, and Richard X also thinks its out.... confused?





Its all happening so quickly. I'm thankful to both Universal Music Russia and Purple PR for finally getting the wheels in motion on this project. Its about time...

Here are the covers for Starlight and Make A Scene:



The album is out in 5 days in Russia. Import the album, or wait for the release in your country. Even if you end up downloading the album/leak, please support Sophie and buy a copy or two.

Lets hope news about Starlight being a single is true. I hope we get a b-side this time, and not just a bunch of remixes....

Track by track: Straight To The Heart - Sophie's 4th record

(thanks to Lee B for scanning the mag)

Track by Track: Straight To The Heart

From Gay Times Maganize

Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer - This one was with the Freemasons. I think it's quite a theatrical love song really. I was playing a bit of a diva but it's quite fun. It's one of those things where you've got to take on a slight alter-ego.

Bittersweet - It's a genuine raw emotion when something's intoxicated you and you can't really do anything about it. When we've been doing it acoustically it's actually quite romantic. When it's got all the bells and whistles it sounds a bit more saucy.

Off And On - A track with Calvin Harris, it was originally written with Roisin Murphy for her record but for one reason or another she felt it didn't fit. Ordinarily I’m a bit squeamish about taking on songs that I didn't write. But I think you've always got to think that you can bring something to it.

Revolution - Working with Cathy Dennis was brilliant, I'm a big fan of hers. It's probably one of my tougher songs. It will be a single, it has a different sound to it. I don't know if I rap exactly in the verses but it's quite sort of aggressive and monotone there. It's with this guy called Greg Kurstin who's a really good producer in LA and Cathy does things that you don't think of doing, like in this song I name check 'Murder On The Dancefloor'

Starlight - I did this with Richard X and Hannah Robinson and it's one of my favourites. I love it in pop music when it's got a soft of wistful sadness like Giorgio Moroder's always really good at that. This song has definitely got that feel.

Magic - Again with Hannah and Richard, and another love song. Sometimes when I'm writing songs I get imagines in my head and with this one I'm always riding a horse, it sounds a bit like I'm galloping somewhere. In the video I've got to do it on horseback.

Synchronised - One of a couple of slower numbers which is about trying to get back in tune with a lover you but you probably won't ever do it, so that's got sadness too. I'm always drawn to sad things. It’s actually really hard to write a happy song I find. I have tried it on many occasions and you do achieve it sometimes but it's actually that sadness and heartache and unrequited love have got built-in interest I suppose, a bit more depth.

Cut Straight To The Heart - Another slow one, I did this with the lovely Ed Harcourt, a really talented singer/songwriter. This is a really melodic song. He's one of the best lyricists I've ever worked with. I know a lot of people who are good with melody, I think that's one of my strong points. But lyrics, it's just really tough to get a lyric that does exactly what you want it to but he's really good at that.

Dial My Number - A song about a text stalker that I have. I've never replied to them but they send me these texts, sending me jokes, sending me my lyrics. Not particularly sinister, but kind of annoying. So it started off as an idea of a song about someone that you're saying "you might have my number but it doesn't mean that anything's gonna happen, so don't get your hopes up."

Homewrecker - Another song with a weird subject matter - you can probably guess what Homewrecker's about! (laughs) It's about girls who flirt with your boyfriend right under your nose which is very annoying. And sometimes they're really just oblivious, they're just so happy to have the attention that they don't really realise that they've crossed the line and they'll go "Yeah but she's just a good friend" and you're like "Yeah but I saw the way she laughed at your jokes and I saw the way she put her hand on your arm when she was telling a story and it's not on". Not on!

Under Your Touch - A song which is quite a saucy love song really. It's just about fancying someone, which is always a good subject matter.

Scene - I did this one with Joe from Metronomy. Actually, Scene was a very instrumental track and it really set the tone. It was written quite early on. It was quite quirky and different and it's just made me think that maybe I've got to try some new stuff here, try something just a bit to push me a bit I suppose so it was a really important track to write.

(I know Not Giving Up On Love isn't mentioned here, but Sophie says it's on the album. No reason to worry. Sophie said this about the song in a radio interview - "Boom – Boom – Boom – Boom - Boom - like fairground music. I mean that in a good way. I worked with a trance DJ called Armin van Buuren. I am pleased with that one. It sounds like authentic trance. I would never have thought in a million years I would do a trance record. But like everything I do it’s all about melody and song, so it just happens to be a trance record.")

Magic is on Fascination's playlist

Magic is on Fascination's official playlist. That could possibly mean that it's on Sophie's forthcoming album. So i guess we have all twelve tracks figured out then.
Thanks to Dan for the update
Amazon (and eBay) have listed Sophia Loren as the b-side to Bittersweet. But, it hasn't been officially confirmed yet.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bittersweet-Sophie-Ellis-Bextor/dp/B003ER20O0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1270223833&sr=8-1
Thanks to Fran for the update

Straight To The Heart - the tracklist

Okay, i know i've made tons of predictions, but i'm sure this time i've got it right. Richard X mentioned on Black Melody that 2 out of 3 songs of his would end up on the album. But Sophie's MySpace says "The" Richard X track. So i'm unsure about Magic. The rest of the tracks are confirmed.

Oh and whoever told me (and stupid of me to publicise without proof) that Synchronised is co-written with Sophie was wrong. PROOF!

1. Sophia Loren (Cathy Denis, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Christopher Rojas)
2. Revolution (Cathy Denis, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Greg Kurstin)
3. Not Giving Up On Love (Armin Buuren, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Nervo Sisters)
4. Bittersweet (Hannah Robinson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Freemasons, Biffco)
5. Starlight (Hannah Robinson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Richard X)
6. Off And On (Cathy Denis, Roisin Murphy, Calvin Harris)
7. Dial My Number (Hannah Robinson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe)
8. Cut Thru' The Heart (Ed Harcourt, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Dimitri)
9. Make A Scene (Metronomy, Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
10. Synchronised (Ina Wrolsden, Fred Ball)
11. I Still Believe In Magic (Hannah Robinson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Richard X)
12. Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer (Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Biffco, Freemasons)


(this is not the official cover, don't worry. i'm just playing around with a picture i found online)

Myspace Profile Updated - loads of new info

(Guys, there's a new post before this one too. Don't forget to read that...)

Sophie Ellis-Bextor is back with album number four, after baby number two, looking and sounding better than ever; but as she once warned us – it’s a Mixed Up World, and juggling young children, with a recording career, international tours, running club nights with husband Richard and her ongoing commitment as the face of cosmetics brand Rimmel, is not without it’s challenges.

How does she manage the balancing act? “I don’t really - it’s quite chaotic, you have to just not fight it. My upbringing was similar because my mum and dad both worked in TV doing funny hours, so I suppose I’m not really designed for consistency.”

In fact the singer who reaches her ten-year anniversary in the pop game this year couldn’t be happier. “I’m having an amazing time right now. It really is the best it’s ever been. I’m still completely excited, and I think that’s vital! There’s nothing more unsexy than a jaded pop star.”

When you hear her new album you’ll understand why Sophie is quite so giddy, “I felt like the album needed to be really positive, and unabashed”, she explains, “if it’s your fourth record you don’t want to be apologetic about it. I like pomposity in pop and confidence and chutzpah.” She’s got chutzpah up to her four-storey hips. Straight To The Heart is a plugged-in pulsating pop juggernaut, which will have Sophie murdering dance floors all over again.

Sophie may be the ultimate pop starlet but she’s no pop puppet – she was heavily involved with all parts of her album, co-writing much of it and working with an in-demand team of writer/producers that includes Freemasons, Greg Kurstin, Calvin Harris, Cathy Dennis, Metronomy, Richard X and Armin Van Buuren.

Freemasons, the team behind those amazing Beyoncé remixes (and much more besides) have two songs on the record. The first, Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) was not just a massive success on home soil but went on to become one of her biggest successes on the continent, particularly Russia where it reached number two in the chart. “I did 8 trips to Moscow last year and I’ve even picked up a bit of Russian too - menya zovut Sofiya… my name is Sophie” she says to prove she’s not fibbing.

The second Freemasons song is her forthcoming single Bittersweet, which is out 25 April. A compelling, emotive epic with dramatic wooshes, tick-tocking drum machines and cold eighties synth, Bittersweet is the euphoric, guaranteed pop moment of the spring.

The song Greg Kurstin (Ke$ha, Kylie and Lily Allen) wrote with Sophie and Cathy Dennis is Revolution: and with it’s gritty bass, crunching beats and ear splitting squeals it is a veritable pop uprising that demonstrates the sophisticated madam’s unladylike penchant for tunes that compel you to get ur sweat on. “The Richard X track”, Sophie says tantalisingly, “is like Borderline era Madonna.” Then there’s the much talked of Calvin Harris song Off & On which sounds like it could easily replicate the dizzee success the lanky Scot has become accustomed to.

Since her last album Trip The Light Fantastic in 2007 Sophie hasn’t just been holed up in the studio creating the pop soundtrack to 2010 she’s been on the road, both on her own and supporting born again boy band Take That on their mega sell out Beautiful World tour. “That was brilliant,” she beams, “they’re such lovely guys and they really looked after me. They threw great parties and we were often staying in the same hotel so we’d all hang out.” Sophie was as much of a fan of the boys onstage as off, and could be regularly found in the wings singing along: “I would have loved to have run on for the Lulu part of Relight My Fire but they actually had a bloke sing it.”

Sophie emerged ten years ago with rare poise amidst the most memorable chart scuffle since Brit pop. Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love) with Italian producer Spiller, her debut solo release (after splitting with rock band theaudience) has recently been awarded the astonishing accolade of ‘the decade’s most played track on radio.’ “That’s so cool, I’m really proud of that. I thought it would have been something like Can’t Get you Out of My Head.”

Since those early beginnings Sophie has stuck with her record label Polydor/Fascination and they’ve stuck by her, something rare in an industry where everyone from Kylie, Janet and Mariah have at one time been ‘let go’. She has lived through the mid-late noughties mire of landfill Indie and come out the other side lipstick (Coral Queen is a current fave) barely smudged.

On the subject of lippy, Ms E-B always gave good face, so it was no surprise she was chosen along with Kate Moss as the face of Rimmel cosmetics in 2008, and she has just renewed her contract. “They sponsored my tour years back, so there was already a seed there, plus I genuinely like what they do.” She’s not kidding either, Sophie is make-up obsessed, “I’ve still got make-up I had when I was 16, which I’m probably not supposed to do - I love it.”

Isn’t she daunted following in the footsteps of the world’s most famous super model? “I can’t deny that the first day on set for the Rimmel ads I was very conscious of the fact Kate Moss is a modern icon. I just focused on the thought that I was adding to it, rather than carrying on from where she left off, because I’m not daft, I know that’s not happening.

Sophie the entrepreneur expanded her repertoire in 2008 with successful Soho club night Modern Love. She ran the club and DJed with husband Richard Jones (guitarist with indie band The Feeling) in a tag-team playfully dubbed ‘Me and Mr Jones’. “DJing got me back into being really excited about music,” she says, galloping off ten words a second, “wanting to hear old and new stuff really loud and seeing if it filled the dancefloor.” Amazingly Sophie and Richard were also responsible for some serious carnage. “About a year ago we did a set at Imperial College,” recalls Sophie. “We were playing stuff like 9-5, and David Bowie and Prince, moving into Chemical Brothers and Basement Jaxx, but when we played Rage Against The Machine they went crazy and nearly knocked down all the security barriers. The promoter told us it was the most lairy reaction they’d ever had to DJs.”

This time spent DJing certainly had an effect on Straight To The Heart. Nearly every song on it is a stiletto snapping dance floor demon. “I think there are two songs that are slower,” Sophie says wracking her brain, “but I’d start writing something and think, ‘oh I like these chords, shall we do a ballad? Nah four to the floor!’”

“I do what I do and I really enjoy it”, says Sophie, “In the past I’ve tried out different things, but I always come back to the stuff I do best, which is electro pop, and it’s also what I really enjoy. Sometimes you can’t fight it. There’s plenty of time for me to do…whatever it is you’re supposed to do when you get old.”

SOURCE: myspace.com/sophieellisbextor

So.. erm.. to sum up

All the information that we have received till now:

1. Sophie recorded with a billion producers (again). We know of 25-30 song titles through ASCAP. But only 12 are going to land up on the album (according to Sophie), which she recently named "Make A Scene". If we pray hard enough and if God is a generous fellow, then we may get two bonus tracks and a load of b-sides. The release strategy, as of now, is two singles followed by the album. And if my memory doesn't fail me, Sophie mentioned sometime in the past that there would be 3 singles from this album.

2. Bittersweet which is scheduled to be the FIRST single from the album is a monstermotherfucker of a track. The Bex-monster will be filming the video for it shortly, and it will hit the radio after that. The CD single will be released on the 2nd of May. We're still unsure what they're going to do with Heartbreak. The video for Bittersweet will be shot in London, with Chris Sweeny again (the same guy who did that goegeous video Heartbreak). A live recording of the Freemasons mix of Bittersweet is available on youtube, thanks to a generous PopJustice reader.

3. The danciest song on the album is a track about a stalker (big surprise!) who irritates Sophie over the phone. ASCAP registers a song-title called "Dial My Number" (with Liam Howe) which, i suppose is the track we're talking about. There was a title called "Hang Up" which came from an inside source, which is most probably just a big rumour. As are the other titles - Still Mixed Up and Carnival.

4. There was a demo CD in circulation in the Fascination office which included these tracks - Synchronised, Starlight, Dial My Number, Off & On, Heartbreak, Under Your Touch and Sophia Loren. Some, if not all, of these tracks might end up on the album. Synchronised was added to Fascination's office playlist back when the song title was just discovered. Calvin Harris had hinted once that he was working on a new mix for "Off & On". We're not sure if there is going to be a new mix of the song, or if his other song "Calling It Love" will end up on the album instead. Sophie performed Starlight at the iTunes festival. The track is produced by Richard X, who has also contributed another song called "Magic". Richard X seems to think that Magic will end up on Sophie's album, thats what i gather from BlackMelody. Richard X, along with Hannah Robinson contributed another song called "Immune To Love", which might not end up on the album.

5. There is a song called "Revolution" which a music journalist (JP) posted on the offical SEB forums. In his words. "'Revolution' has to be a single, I cannot write in words how much I love this track".

6. Sophie had mentioned Ed Harcourt a couple of times in the past. Ed collaborated with Sophie and Dimitri, contributing 3 songs, according to ASCAP. Sophie also said on a radio interview that she worked with Betty Boo for the album, but no song title has popped up, yet, crediting Betty Boo.

7. Sophie has worked with the famous Armin Van Buuren on a very trance-y song called "Not Giving Up On Love" which is penned with the Nervo sisters. The Nervo sisters contributed another song called "We Got A Chance", according to ASCAP. Sophie recently confirmed the Armin track to be a part of the album.

8. "Sophia Loren", a track produced by Christopher Rojas and co-written with Cathy Dennis was initially planned to be the lead single of the album last January, when Sophie was still pregnant with Kit. The song was featured on a Rimmel advert which is now being played in the US as well. The chorus of the song can be heard on the advert, and a 2 minute snippet of the song can be heard on the making of ad. Christopher Rojas contributed another song called "Lose Myself" according to ASCAP.

9. Sophie's official website announced that Sophie was going to work with Greg Kurstin (again) and Andreas Kleerup on new songs. So far, no songtitles have popped up anywhere crediting them. Sophie has worked with Kurstin in the past on her hit single "Catch You".

10. Sophie has worked with some of the biggest names in the pop industry. Here are the list of collaborators - Freemasons, Calvin Harris, Richard X, Joe (Metronomy), Liam Howe (Sneaker Pimps), Biffco, Dimitri, Hannah Robinson, Armin Van Buuren, Christopher Rojas, Jim Elliott (Kish Mauve), Fred Ball, Greg Kurstin, Andreas Kleerup, Johnny Douglas, Cathy Dennis, Ina Wrolsden, Miriam and Olivia Nervo, Ed Harcourt, Betty Boo and more (that whole Bloodshy & Avant thing is, most probably, just a rumour).

11. This is a thorough list of songs recorded for the album. We're not sure which ones are going to make it to the final cut - Cut Through The Heart, Don't Let Me Go, Sleepwalking, Love Deluxe, For Love, Not Giving Up On Love, Calling It Love, Dial My Number, Give Into Love, Magic, Bittersweet, Lose Myself, My Priority, Off & On, Only For This Moment, Sophia Loren, Sorry Now, Starlight, Supersexy, Synchronised, Scene, Under Your Touch, Whispers On The Street, Wicked Game, Immune To Love, We Got A Chance, Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer, Easier Said Than Done, Get Right, Hype, Kitten On The Keys, Revolution.

album nearly finished...

On Nov 3rd, Sophie tweeted saying: "album writing all done now. just final vocals and mixing. woo! have to pick my final album tracks then january it all goes public..." and "done another lovely song with the freemasons, biff and hannah. i am a lucky gal!" Unfortunately though, she caught a cold and she couldn't sing. But recently, Sophie tweeted this
"Celebrated finishing off v good new song by whole vacherin cheese just for me and R with red wine. Was yum but feel bit gross today."
and
"another day, another song sung! album nearly finished yay yay yay."

The good thing is she is back in the studio and the album is finally being recorded and completed. Its all out in January, according to Sophie. So fingers crossed we get a great (electro-pop dance) album. The campaign is supposed to be really bizarre but we're in for a treat.

Here is a list of known songs (updated), who knows what will end up on the album:

1. Love Deluxe (Ellis-Bextor/Harry James/Wilcox Simon)
2. For Love (Douglas John Henry/Ellis-Bextor/Poole Karen Ann)
3. Not Giving Up On Love (Buuren Armin/Ellis-Bextor/Nervo Miriam/Nervo Olivia Margaret)
4. Calling It Love (Cathy Dennis/Sophie Ellis-Bextor/Richard Wiles)
5. Dial My Number (Hang Up) (Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
6. Give Into Love (Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
7. Magic (Richard X/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
8. Lose Myself (Christopher Rojas/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
9. My Priority (Lamont Dazier/Sophie Ellis-Bextor/John Stack Graham/Daniel Woodcock)
10. Off And On (Cathy Dennis/Roisin Murphy/Calvin Harris)
11. Only For This Moment (Alexander Perls/Cohen Wayne/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
12. Sophia Loren (Christopher Rojas/Cathy Dennis/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
13. Sorry Now (Christopher Mohr/Cohen Wayne/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
14. Starlight (Richard X/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
15. Supersexy (Jim Elliott, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gabriel, Hannah Robinson)
16. Synchronized (Ina Wroldsen/Sophie Ellis-Bextor/Fred Ball)
17. Make A Scene (Metronomy/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
18. Under Your Touch (Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
19. Whispers On The Street (Jim Elliott, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gabriel, Hannah Robinson)
20. Wicked Game (David Lipsey/Jeremy Shaw/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
21. Immune To Love (Sophie Ellis-Bextor/Hannah Robinson/Richard X)
22. We Got A Chance (Ellis-Bextor/Nervo Miriam/Nervo Olivia/Rowbottom Matthew Paul)
23. Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer (Ellis-Bextor/Freemasons)

and the songs which are not going to be on the album (confirmed by an inside source)
Carnival
In The Name Of Lust
Moving Cities
Music Took My Man
Still Mixed Up

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Starlight (LIVE!!!)

Sophie performed what seems to be her new single live at the iTunes festival. My previous post was about the same song - Starlight, produced by Richard X, co written with him and Hannah Robinson. The song sounds more epic than Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer. If this is the follow up single, then yay!!

Thanks to Dazzle on the PopJustice forums
Here's the link - watch the video for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYt6uomVQOw
She looks amazing as ever, and sounds brilliant. I can imagine how good the track will sound in the CD!!

Sophie's set list for the event was:
1. Take Me Home
2. Catch You
3. Starlight - brand new song from the 4th album
4. Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)
5. Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)
6. Murder On The Dancefloor

EDIT - after watching the performance over 17 times on my computer, i've made up my mind. The song has an amazing chorus!! I'm in love with the middle 8. It sounds very Madonna-esque. And the song is almost 4 minutes! Fulfilling!!! Kudos to Richard X. It sounds like an upbeat ballad, but then again, most of Sophie's songs do. I think she's saying "we beloooooooooong to the starlight starlight starlight". The sound on the recording isn't very clear. I can't wait for an actual HQ recording. It should be aired on the telly soon (maybe tonight), keep your eyes peeled.

EDIT 2 - after watching it again, i think its going to be the New York City Lights of the 4th album. Can't think of a better comparison. Extremely radio friendly, quenches your thirst, gives you everything that you were looking for in the song....

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Starlight (produced by Ricahrd X)

So we have a new song title - Starlight, produced by Richard X.
SOURCE: http://blackmelody.com/track.php?id=63

I'm going to call this album "Powerhouse" for now, cos it seems like its going to be one of those hardcore dance records which no one can tire of. So far we have the following titles:

1. Sophia Loren
2. Off And On
3. Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer
4. Calling It Love
5. I Still Believe In Magic
6. Synchronized
7. Music Took My Man
8. Still Mixed Up
9. Whispers On The Street
10. The Scene
11. Hang Up
12. Supersexy
13. Give Into Love
14. Dial My Number
15. Under Your Touch
16. Starlight

I don't know what the second Freemasons track is called. I don't know which one of these is the Betty Boo song either. I'm not sure if the Groove Armada track is on the album. I think Dial My Number and Hang Up are the same song, considering that both song titles relate to a telephone. I can be wrong, there is no solid information available, its only my assumption.

Sophie said she's done with 15-20 tracks, and 10 of those are definitely going to make it onto the album. But she's going to work a little more before she finalizes it. I wonder what happened to those American collaborations.. There wasn't any further news about it.

updating you (again) about the fourth album...

Everytime i think of the producers for this album i think "oh my god she's got the entire shebang in there"...
Kish Mauve (Supersexy and Whispers On The Street), Groove Armada, Richard X (I Still Believe In Magic), Calvin Harris (2 songs with him - Calling It Love and Off And On), Freemasons (Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer and another track), Richard Biff Stannard, Metronomy, Sneaker Pimps (Under Your Touch, Give Into Love, Dial My Number) , The Hoosiers, Dimitri Tikovoi, Christopher Rojas (Sophia Loren), Hannah Robinson

She's short of Bloodshy & Avant to make this X (Kylie's album) pt. 2. I do wish for the album to be as creative and bloody entertaining as X or any of her (Sophie) previous albums..

She's been co-writing with Cathy Dennis and Ina Wroldsen (Synchronised) who has also penned songs for Kat DeLuna, The Pussycat Dolls, Lindsay Lohan, Hayden Pannetiere and The Saturdays...

Some really random titles like Immune To Love and In The Name Of Lust had also surfaced, but there was no proof about them, so they were phased out as rumours. One of Sophie's friends said that there would be two songs on the album from the TTLF sessions - Still Mixed Up (not sure if this is a TTLF reject) and Music Took My Man (this definitely is a TTLF reject, i've seen this much before plans of the 4th album came up)

She's in the studio with Biff and Calvin now who are doing the finishing touches for the album. Hopefully it will be done soon, and in two months we should have the second single out.. can't wait!! All the best Sophie!! And hurray for Heartbreak, its doing well on the charts!! FANS KEEP YOUR SUPPORT GOING!!!

Sophie's 4th album - more song titles

Those of you who were wondering what in heavens name that tracklist on wikipedia was, here's the answer. Those are actual song titles, registered with ASCAP as well. But i don't think Sophie has recorded them yet, she must have just written the songs

Dial My Number Two
(Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 343177173)

Give Into Love
(Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 371786837)

In My Taxi (Supersexy)
(Jim Elliott, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gabriel, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 393530517)

Under Your Touch
(Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 510685459)

Whispers (On The Street)
(Jim Elliott, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gabriel, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 532935218)

Sophie also confirmed that she is working with the Freemasons on another track for the album.

So now we have these:
1. Sophia Loren - with Christopher Rojas
2. I Still Believe In Magic - with Richard X
3. Off & On - with Calvin Harris
4. Calling It Love - with Calvin Harris
5. Synchronized
6. Music Took My Man
7. Still Mixed Up
8. Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer - with the Freemasons
9. the other freemasons collab
10. the groove armada collab
11. the sneaker pimps collab
12. the metronomy collab

new Sophie track

Someone from universal hinted that there is another collaboration with Richard X apart from I Still Believe In Magic...

There seems to be a song called Immune To Love, with Richard X and Hannah Robinson. I'm thinking its probably going to be another 70's disco "China Heart" type songs... ooh can't wait for the new album...

SPLIT SECOND LIFE (confirmed title for 4th album)

Inside sources just confirmed that the wikipedia rumoured title "Split second love" is actually "Split second life". The album "WILL" come out in the end of 2009, which is a relief to me!! I'm so happy she decided to do it in 2009 itself.

Also, here's a shocker. CARNIVAL is the name of a song recorded by Sophie. If you thought P!nk and Britney were the only two circus freaks, you were wrong!! I wonder what this would sound like, considering the fact that Sophie may be a little too posh sounding for a title like that, i don't know... i do hope this song makes it onto the final cut!

There's a petition going on on the official forum to release a 5-track EP. Click here to sign the petition. Who knows, we might get one!!

So here's a list of tracks confirmed (till now). I'm going to keep mentioning the tracks that we have everytime a new title surfaces, so we'll have an idea of what the tracklist might be...
1. Sophia Loren (which sadly won't be a single)
2. I Still Believe In Magic (the Richard X song)
3. Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer (the Freemasons song)
4. Off & On (the Calvin Harris song, Roisin Murphy reject)
5. Calling It Love (the other Calvin Harris song)
6. Still Mixed Up
7. Music Took My Man
8. Carnival

And guess what!? Sophia Loren is produced by Christopher Rojas, who made "Fingers" for P!nk. WOW!! Can't wait for this song to come out. Denis/Ellis-Bextor are the credits for the lyrics (Yay!! Cathy dennis and Sophie writing a song, its got to be pop brilliance!) and mixed by Jeremy Wheatley (he's always done this)... really looking forward to this song!!

New Song Title Surfaced

Sophie had recorded songs with Richard X, Groove Armada, Calvin Harris and Freemasons for her GH which was planned for last year. She loved all the songs so much that she decided to go with an album instead. Sophie is also planning on working with Liam from Sneaker Pimps, Dimitri and Greg Alexander again.

The track she recorded with Richard X is called I Still Believe In Magic. There's also another track title that surfaced recently - In The Name Of Lust. This isn't confirmed at all. It surfaced on Wikipedia. It sounds like something that she has recorded with Liam or Dimitri. There is another Calvin collaboration called Calling It Love. So now we hopefully have 5 song titles. The album should be out by September. Fingers crossed that we're going to get a mixture of Read My Lips & Trip The Light Fantastic...

Sophie's secret gig

SOPHIE ELLIS BEXTOR made her live return with a secret gig on top of a building in West London the other night.

The sexy songstress ran through a short eight-song set in front of an invited audience at Kensington Roof Gardens - a plush venue above an office block.

The cocktail-loving posh girl bigged up sponsors Martini, and other stars at the event included LILY COLE, NICK MORAN, and The Kills' ALISON MOSSHART - minus her boyfriend NOEL FIELDING.

JAY KAY, Page 3 girl KEELEY HAZEL and NATALIE IMBRUGLIA stood at the frontsinging along like real fans.

Sophie sang several songs from her forthcoming fourth album due out later this summer - plunging straight into new track If I Can't Dance, a revved-up electro-pop offering that could well become a chart-botherer.

Ellis Bextor has roped in CALVIN HARRIS, RICHARD X and GROOVE ARMADA to help her write songs.

But the biggest cheers of the evening were reserved for the SEB hits collection. Take Me Home, Yes Sir I Can Boogie, Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) and Murder On The Dancefloor were all well received by the small audience.

Sophie looked anything but mumsy wearing an almostly indecently see-through dress and precipitous heels which required her husband - The Feeling's RICHARD JONES - to stand on a step when the couple posed for pics after the gig.