Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s post-Saltburn resurgence continues with ‘Perimenopop’, a record that showcases the singer at her most confident and self-assured. Following Murder On The Dancefloor’s viral TikTok resurgence in late 2023, her eighth LP stays true to the sounds that made her a megastar at the turn of the millennium, putting out infectious chart-topping hits in quick succession.
Ellis-Bextor starts ‘Perimenopop’ off strong with the disco-pop opener Relentless Love, which would fit snugly on 2011’s ‘Make A Scene’ as it compares falling in love to the electrifying thrill of a funfair. Vertigo’s, meanwhile, has glittering ABBA-esque production centre stage.
Stay On Me is another vibrant disco number, reminiscent of tracks on co-writer Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s recent collaborative record ‘I Said I Love You First’. Freedom Of The Night is a Murder On The Dancefloor-esque thrill from start to finish.
The second chapter of ‘Perimenopop’ is patchier. Time is almost there as a floor filler but doesn’t quite hit the mark, while Glamorous falls flat while trying to emulate the vigor of Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’. Layers’ Blondie-esque production feels stagnant. At its best, ‘Perimenopop’ is a fine reminder of Ellis-Bextor in full flight, its peaks making its few missteps all the more dissatisfying.
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