The Sound Radar Music reviews, news and previews

As Cheryl Cole prepares to release her second album on 1st November 2010, check out the album sampler below to get a taste of what you're in for when it drops.

I will, however, take the time to sum things up for everyone briefly in the following short statement...

I have had the chance to give the full album a good listen over the past few days and will continue to until my copy is delivered next Monday when I'll have a review here for you on the release date (and not before!). Until then, heed that word above and get ready for it...

Following the success of his debut single Please Don't Let Me Go, X-Factor 2009 runner-up Olly Murs has unveiled the video for his second single, Thinking Of Me.

The track follows the same sound and style of his debut release, and still keeps that summery vibe regardless of of the fact that summer is now over. The vocals are still up to Olly's high standard but hugely let down by the awful lyrics. The theme tells the story of an old love in which Olly is recalling memories from their time together, and although they are no longer a couple the old love is still thinking of him. It's cheesy but is works purely on the fact that this is Olly Murs and he can pull it off.

The video itself has less of a story to it than the previous video, and is comprised mainly of different shots of Olly dancing about on posts and fences (held up by strings, or super human abilities? This is still up for debate...!) whilst singing about his memories. Every now and then, he catches the eye of a woman who always ends up looking like his past love. It's less interesting to watch than the video for Please Don't Let Me Go but who needs scenery, the video has OLLY MURS in it for flip sake, that should be enough to watch!

The single drops on 21st November 2010 in the UK, followed by Olly's debut album on 29th November 2010. Check out the video below and let me know what you think...!

Olly Murs, X-Factor 2009 runner up, it set to release his debut single "Please Don't Let Me Go" on 29th August 2010. The track has been floating about over the radio for a few weeks now and substantial hype is building, and rightly so as it is a bit of a tune! Slight reggae-ish pop with a strong summer chillout sound may contribute to making this release a chart smash for Olly.

The video has just premiered, and to match the summery vibe to the track, is set at an old English manor party. Olly looks slightly edible, there is a small dance routine by the backing dancers, Olly wears a hat (of course!) and looks edible, there is a little bit of humour thrown in and at the end of it, Olly still looks edible.

Keep your eyes open for it on the music channels the upcoming weeks / months, as this is sure to be around for a while! Check it out below...

British Pop/R&B diva Alexandra Burke has revealed her fifth single, titled Start Without You, and its a bit of a summer stomper!

The track will more than likely feature on her upcoming second album, which is yet to be titled, which also denontes the end of her "Overcome" campaign. It is produced by RedOne (which is obvious from first listen!) and features a reggae-ish beat, Alex's powerful vocals and a rap too which adds to that summer vibe.

The track as a whole sounds VERY much like an early Kat DeLuna tune, with the RedOne produced sound, the tropical summer beats and tribal-ish effects.

No video yet, as there are only leaked pictures so far (one of which is up there ^^!), but for now treat your ears to the track in full here...

The eleventh studio album by Australian artist Kylie Minogue finally hit shelves today, after much much much anticipation from Kylies fans - and there are a lot of them worldwide! The album takes Kylie back to her dance floor sound, which she did so well around 2001-2003 before she started experimenting for her previous album, X. Kylie has teamed up with producer Stuart Price who has previously worked with Madonna, Scissor Sisters, Frankmusik and Keane and also songwriters Calvin Harris, Nerina Pallot, Jake Shears and Tim Rice-Oxley to create an album that is been in the works for the past couple of years.

The artwork for the album is all themed around the "Aphrodite" theme, who is the greek godess for love, beauty and sexuality and Kylie embodies that herself in the images on offer here.

1. All The Lovers - The lead single for this album campaign, and a successful hit in the UK and Europe and even gaining momentum in the US too. The sound is like a higher tempo "Slow", with more feel good vibes and a summery feel to it. The electro beats and synths, piano backing and Kylies whispy vocals create a euphoric sound which carries the entire track to the middle eight and build up to the instrumental break. More of the same but harder hitting is then unleashed until the track concludes with the sole line "All The Lovers"...blissful! 10/10

2. Get Outta My Way - More summer dance beats fill this track, with stripped verses leading into a stomping chorus. Kylie sounds confident and determined in her delivery of the lyrics which are themed around the shunning of a previous lover for a new one in front of them. Word is that this will be the second single from this campaign and should be just as successful as All The Lovers if released when the sun is still shining! 10/10

3. Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) - This track instantly kicks off with a heavy beat, and Kylie chants the opening verse over these beats leading to a smash of a build up into the high tempo chorus. The electro vibe is really pushed in the chorus and is dancable and catchy. This is definitely a club stomper and should get floods of people to the dancefloor with their hands in the air, especially when the track gets to its disco middle eight! 10/10

4. Closer - This track is one of the more experimental tracks on the album, but still flows well and keeps the electro dance theme. The build up takes a while along with the first verse but by the time the chorus picks up the heavier beat is introduced and the track feels more complete. This is borderline mid-high tempo and does leave me a little confused after listening to it, as i'm not sure if I want to dance or just enjoy the listening experience. The vocals sound extremely Kylie of the early 2000's though! 7.5/10

5. Everything Is Beautiful - The first slightly chilled track on the album, this creates a nice breather from all the stomping around you may or may not have been doing so far. The heavy piano track running through the background, lazy summer beats and synths and slower vocals from Kylie create the sound which is perfect to go grab a drink before returning to the dancefloor, or sit down and de-sweat yourself. None of this make it a bad track though, and it is one of the albums hidden gems! 9/10

6. Aphrodite - OH MY LORD just about sums up my opinion of the title track. A funky almost marching beat opens this track, before Kylie chants a few lines and then wham, the track kicks off and is propelled into the outter stratosphere. The lyrics almost seem perfect for Kylies delivery, full of self confidence and an air of "I'm back" about them. The beats and military drums litter the track throughout and keep it moving as it makes it's way through the verses, powers through the choruses and then into the small middle eight where things are kicked off one final time before the track closes. This is the highlight of the entire album, in my very humble opinion! 11/10

7. Illusion - Kylie creates a calming vibe at the start of this track with her vocals before the slower dirty electro beat filters in and sets the pace for this one. There is a chilled feel to the track as well, but there's a little too much going on to put it in the same class as Everything is Beautiful. The digital beeps and synths keep the track sounding modern and fun, so be careful not to underestimate this track as I did first listen! 9/10

8. Better Than Today - This track opens straight away with a fun electro ditty and once things kick off the track still sounds very fun and very summery still. The production sounds similar to a Scissor Sisters track (dispite this one having no affiliation with Jake Shears), and whilst the beat isn't overly heavy, it is funky and literally plods at a decent pace. The guitar riffs create a little extra something here too and so this track remains interesting and exciting. 9.5/10

9. Too Much - Another highlight can be found here, with a heavy electro vibe flowing through it. The chorus is the best part, but the verses to not disappoint either. The heavy bass and effects almost push this track into a trance genre, but is pulled back into the dance feel with the middle eight break and Kylies distinct vocals. This is also the Calvin Harris produced and co-written track along with Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters, and has their sound all over it. 10/10

10. Cupid Boy - Again the boundaries of electro dance pop and trance are pushed here, but Kylie makes sure she knows what she wants this track to be classed as with her vocals, which sound like a mix of early 200's Kylie and "X" era Kylie. The chorus is hard hitting and the lyrics are clever and euphoric. The production values are high and the fun in this track is made obvious with Kylies voice. Another dancey summer track to entertain yourself with. 10/10

11. Looking For An Angel - Why is there always one track which never quite hits the mark and makes it almost impossible for me to rate a whole album a full ten? This track kicks off weak and doesn't really aim as high as the rest of the tracks, although Kylies vocals do sound fantastic. It is the last chilled sounding track before the close of the album, and whilst the first half sounds a little dull the second half does pick up slightly with more of a beat to it. The track is slightly experimental again and differs from the sound as a whole but sounds a little strange by the middle-eight. A pleasent listen, but breaks the pace a little. 6.5/10

12. Can't Beat The Feeling - Back to normality for this albums final track, this opens with a disco feel and keeps that theme going all the way through with the addition of a steady dance beat and electro synths and production. Another feel good track, but a little samey sounding by now. Still a euphoric sounding track with Kylie singing about the feelings she gets with a certain person which add to the tracks fun sound. 8/10

Overall rating: 9.5/10

I so so so wanted to give this album a full ten out of ten, but the score was tainted a little by a couple of SLIGHTLY weaker tracks, and the fact that it might not just be experimental enough for Kylie. Still, this is what the fans wanted after the mish mash of tracks found on "X" (although I enjoyed X quite a lot too...) and that is exactly what they got. A cohesive, complete, pure Kylie album - Kylie doing what she does best. The feel good value of this entire album is amazing, and will make a great soundtrack to the summer of 2010.

Depending on where you picked up the album from, you may have also got your hands on one of two bonus tracks, Heartstrings which is a mid-tempo electro chiller and very enjoyable, although almost a little sad sounding by Kylies vocals. There is also Mighty Rivers which comes with the iTunes copy of the album. The instrumental and verses are great but the chorus is a bit of a let down.

To close is a Kylie album, and one of her best if not her best yet! Kylie fans will love it, pop fans should love it and music fans in general should be able to appreciate it too. Well done to Kylie and team, now hurry up and get on tour with it!

American R&B turned Electro-Dance artist, Kelis, released her fifth studio album, Flesh Tone, worldwide on 17th May 2010 apart from the United States and Canada where it is due for release on 6th July 2010.

This is the first album released by Kelis on the Interscope label, working under the will.i.am branding which is mainly responsible for her switch of sound.

The album is summery, sweaty and primal and is perfect for long gym sessions, long car drives or summer beach parties and the album artwork was directed by British portrait and fashion photographer, John "Rankin" Waddell. It is very conceptual and fits with the primal dance feel of the album.

As for the tracks...

1. Intro - As the title suggests, the introduction track to the album. The track builds up to a crescendo of electro beats, destinctive Kelis vocals and spacey synths. It all sounds very "Daft Punk" until all sounds fade out into a chant of "We control the dance floor..." repeated until it kicks off straight into the next track which is the first proper track on the album. 7/10

2. 22nd Century - A slow euphoric intro slowly builds up into an electro stomper of a track. Heavy beats, repetitive vocals and use of digital effects pull this track straight from the future of the 22nd century. Kelis' view is that everybody will be dancing, and if this is the sort of thing playing out of our speakers then, she is very right! By the time the track hits the three and a half minute mark, all the stops are out and you should be dancing, breaking down and enjoying yourself already! The track then breaks into an instrumental intro for the next one, as all the tracks on this album do. 8/10

3. 4th Of July (Fireworks) - This is the second single from this campaign, and after a few listens it has already surpassed the launch track, Acapella, in my eyes (or ears?). This is incredibly summery, euphoric, dancable and even sing-along. More dirty electro beats, a memorable lyric sheet and a spacey pre-chorus break make this track one of the total highlights of this album. You can't help but feel good after listening to this track! 10/10

4. Home - Seemlessly flowing on from the previous track, Home is again very powerful, feel good and danceable. A very memorable chorus, catchy beats and screeching synths make sure this track stays in your head long after listening to it. Kelis' huskier, almost whispered vocals add to the feel of the track and it all builds up to explode in the final chorus before dropping out on an instrumental break to the next track. 10/10

5. Acapella - This was the lead single from the Flesh Tone campaign. After being very successful worldwide, and featured all over radio, TV and commercial slots, everyone should know this tune by now. It has a distinct David Guetta feel to it, and as he produced the track I guess that should be expected! Acapella never fails to bring people to the dance floor, able to sing along and dance to a song so well known for this summer. Dancey synth beats, various breaks and buildups and a memorable, chanty chorus made this a perfect album launch single. 10/10

6.  Scream - This is one of the albums more heavier tracks, with a very heavy bassline once the bare-bones intro has finished. Kelis vocals are very robotic here, which adds to the tracks electro feel. The verses are recited as though Kelis was just programmed to say them on demmand but again this is not a bad thing for this track. The verses and chorus almost seem to have reversed roles here, as the chorus is a lot less intense than the verses. This is also a perfect workout track, and very motivational! 10/10

7. Emancipate - This track is again extremely electro, hard hitting and catchy, although a little repetitive on the chorus. The verses are perfectly structured though and Kelis sounds wonderful on them and a lot more organic. This does come across as a bit of a gay anthem too, especially when the repetitive chorus does kick in! Kelis is clearly showing self power and self belief here, and again this is a very motivational track! After this comes a rather strange but original intro to the next track... 9/10

8. Brave - Another hard electro track, opening with Kelis' vocals introducing the theme of the song as well as synths looping over in the background. This all acts as a mega-buildup to the chorus, which is again very powerful and full of self belief and inspiration. The lines and between chorus and verses are a little blurred but this just makes the track just feel more epic and doesn't disrupt the lyrics and theme of the track at all. Lots of heavy beats, synths and cymbal crashes create a very "set free" sound, which I believe was the aim of the track. 9/10

9. Song For The Baby - This final track starts off a little different from the others, will a brass introduction and initially I was worried this would ruin the lot. Then in kick the piano backing tracks, heavy beats and Kelis' echoey vocals and, whilst this track sounds a little different from the rest of the album, is still falls into the same genre and sound just with a bit more originality in the instrumentals. Unfortunately, as with a lot of final tracks, this is the weakest on the album, even if it isn't a weak track in general overal. Once this track fades out though there are no more intros to more tracks, this is the lot. 7/10

Overall rating: 9/10

Kelis has taken her sound and career in a completely new direction with the release of Flesh Tone, but this is not a bad thing at all and when all is said and done the results are much more memorable, feel good, upbeat and dancable. When looking at the track listing, it does look a little short on tracks but manages to not feel short when listening to the whole thing, which is an accomplishment. The album has failed to make any impressionable dents on any of the european album charts, which is very suprising as the album feels very european indeed. Still, with the release due in her home country soon where she has a lot more recognition, hopefully this will be a smash for her as this album deserves to be commended for it. Whether you are after that new gym soundtrack, a soundtrack for your summer, a collection of tracks for a party or just to blast out at home or in your car, this does the trick and hits all the right buttons.

If you get a chance, check out the videos for the currently released singles from this campaign too, they have been a little spectacular!

British pop girl-group The Saturdays unveiled their latest music video this weekend for the new single, Missing You. This is the lead single from their third album, Headlines, which is due for release in August and available for pre-order now.

After a bit of a rocky second album campaign with Wordshaker, the girls are hoping to re-launch themselves off the back of a new album and a fresh set of tracks. The tracklist for the new album is yet to be revealed, but it is rumoured to contain previous singles Forever Is Over and Ego, but with Wordshaker containing some brilliant pop gems, I'm hoping they aren't trying to wipe the album from their memories.

So, the new track itself is quite summery, borders on ballad / mid tempo stomper, and is actually a little trancey and euphoric in some places. I do feel the track needs something more though, it feels like an element is missing. Maybe a memorable middle-eight or a beefed up chorus will do it, but Missing You is still a decent track and will hopefully do well for the girls.

The video, however, is a bit lacklustre no matter how summery it may be. The dance routine seems a little clunky for a track with this sound and the beach shots of the girls look like a Thomas Cook advert with a slightly higher budget. They all look lovely though, so well done them at least!

Here's the video to judge for yourself...