More Sirens! Give A Little Love

I'm turning into something of a Sirens fanatic! In the past few weeks I've featured their sublime cover of "I'm So Excited" as well as the poptastic "Like Fire, Like Rain". Both singles are explosions of pure pop - the kind of music that Australia has produced far too little of in recent years. After hearing the girls' third and final single, I'll go as far as describing Sirens as pop revolutionaries! "Give A Little Love" sounds like something the Teen Queens recorded in 1992 - only with tacky dance beats. Yes, it's that good!

The spoken introduction (with an Australian accent, no less) announces the song's strong 1960s influence, while the adorable opening verse - "It's a teenage dream, to be 17 and all wrapped up in love" - continues the quirky retro style. As with their other songs, I'm hugely impressed by the band's brilliant harmonising and energy. The high quality of "Give A Little Love" makes the fact that Sirens never released an album all the more depressing. I've done some research and an album was indeed planned (and probably recorded) but, as far as I can tell, remains unreleased. On a somewhat brighter note, lead singer Angie Hilton did release a fabulous solo single, which you can hear on her website.

None of Sirens' singles are readily available, so your best bet is to keep an eye on Australian Ebay. Angie's fantastic solo single, "Day In The Sun", can be purchased from iTunes.

Three Aussie Divas - Past, Present & Future

I feel like it's Christmas! After a veritable drought, new Dannii projects are sprouting up everywhere. Could 2007 finally be Holidannii's year? With any luck the rest of the world will finally realise what we have always known - that Dannii is not only the greatest dancer but the world's greatest living entertainer! The next few months promise a smorgasbord of Dannii activity. Firstly, there is her highly publicised role on "X Factor" and confirmation that channel 7 executives are willing to postpone the second series of "Australia's Got Talent" for six months just to ensure they snare Dannii's services. It seems that Dannii's old record companies are already bracing for Dannii-mania with 2 Disc re-releases of "Girl" and "Neon Nights" announced yesterday. I'll believe it when I'm holding copies in my hand but the tracklists are enough to get me salivating:

DANNII MINOGUE
‘Girl’
DELUXE EDITION

COMPACT DISC ONE

01. All I Wanna Do
02. Heaven Can Wait (Album Version)
03. So In Love With Yourself
04. Am I Dreaming?
05. Everybody Changes Underwater
06. Everything I Wanted (Album Version)
07. It It Moves – Dub It
08. Disremembrance (Album Version)
09. It’s Amazing
10. Movin’ Up (Extended Mix) - UNRELEASED
11. Keep Up With The Good Times - UNRELEASED
12. Someone New (Radio Edit) - UNRELEASED
13. Coconut
14. All I Wanna Do (Trouser Enthusiasts Radio Edit) - UNRELEASED
15. Everything I Wanted (Xenomania Radio Edit)
16. Disremembrance (Trouser Enthusiasts Radio Edit) - UNRELEASED ON CD

COMPACT DISC TWO

01. All I Wanna Do (12” Extended Mix)
02. Everything I Wanted (Xenomania 12” Club Mix)
03. Heaven Can Wait (Trouser Enthusiasts Cloud Nine Mix) - UNRELEASED IN UK
04. Disremembrance (Full Orchestral 12” Mix) - UNRELEASED
05. All I Wanna Do (Qattara’s Club Mix)
06. Everything I Wanted (Jupiter 6 Soul Surround Mix)
07. Disremembrance (Twyce As Nyce 1:40AM Club Mix) - UNRELEASED
08. Movin’ Up (Getting Harder Mix) - UNRELEASED
09. Keep Up With The Good Times (Xenomania 12” Mix) - UNRELEASED
10. All I Wanna Do (Tiny Tim & The Mekon Dream Dub) - UNRELEASED ON CD


DANNII MINOGUE
‘Neon Nights’
DELUXE EDITION

COMPACT DISC ONE

01. Put The Needle On It
02. Creep
03. I Begin To Wonder (Album Version)
04. Hey! (So What)
05. For The Record
06. Mighty Fine
07. On The Loop
08. Push
09. Mystified
10. Don’t Wanna Lose This Feeling (Album Version)
11. Vibe On
12. A Piece Of Time
13. Who Do You Love Now? (Radio Edit)
14. Come And Get It (Radio Version) - UNRELEASED
15. Nervous
16. Just Can’t Give You Up - UNRELEASED
17. Hide And Seek
18. Don’t Wanna Lose This Groove (Radio Edit)
19. Est-Ce Que Tu M’Aimes Encore? - UNRELEASED OUTSIDE FRANCE
20. Goodbye Song
21. It Won’t Work Out (Acoustic Version) - UNRELEASED

COMPACT DISC TWO

01. Don’t Wanna Lose This Groove – Extended Version (DANNII VS MADONNA)
02. Begin To Spin Me Round – Extended Version (DANNII VS DEAD OR ALIVE)
03. Who Do You Love Now? – Riva’s Bora Bora Club Mix - UNRELEASED OUTSIDE NETHERLANDS
04. Put The Needle On It – Jason Nevins Freak Club Creation Mix - UNRELEASED IN FULL
05. Hide And Seek – Thriller Jill Original Extended Mix - UNRELEASED
06. Come And Get It – Jerome Isma-Ae Remix - UNRELEASED
07. Put The Needle On It – Tiga’s Cookies Dub
08. Creep – Jon Dixon Club Mix - UNRELEASED
09. I Begin To Wonder – Almighty Transensual Club Mix - UNRELEASED
10. Put The Needle On It – Cicada Vocal Mix
11. Come And Get It – Sharam Jey Remix - UNRELEASED
12. Don’t Wanna Lose This Feeling – Jupiter Ace Speared Thru The Heart Mix - UNRELEASED

It just seems too good to be true. The idea of an Almighty Transensual Club Mix of "I Begin To Wonder" is almost too fabulous for me to stand! However, the Dannii explosion doesn't end there by any means. Warners are also rumoured to be on the verge of announcing the release of two Holidannii compilations. That makes four scheduled albums this year! I'd be more than satisfied if Warners just hurry up and release the much delayed "Platinum Collection". Never one to rest on her laurels, Dannii has also been up to her old tricks of wearing very little clothing by modelling for Next lingerie! As you can see, Dannii looks truly spectacular! Kylie must be so jealous by her younger sister's amazing figure. In this hilarious interview (which waxes lyrical about Dannii's "strong Australian teeth") Dannii confirms that she's packing 32DDs! Check out Dannii's sexy photo shoot on Next's website. All we need now is some new music and another lesbian scandal!

While I'm still riding my Dannii high, I thought it would be fun to shine a light on two other fabulous Australian divas - one from the past and one who promises great things in the future. A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about Roxane Lebrasse, an ex-Australian Idol contestant who had the bad luck of recording a pseudo-cover of Salt 'N' Pepa's "Push It" at exactly the same time as Sophie Monk and appeared to have lost her record deal as a result. Well, common sense has prevailed and Roxane's fabulous anthem "Sexy" is scheduled for release tomorrow. I absolutely love the song but I'm even more enamoured by the film clip. This has to be the trashiest Australian video since Marcia & Deni took blue screen technology to a stunning new low in their amazing "Stomp" extravaganza. I live for this kind of shit - cheap effects, bad dancing and weirdos wearing pig masks! Take pity on this tragic fledgling diva by downloading "Sexy" from iTunes or purchasing a copy from Chaos or Sanity. If the remixes are any good, I'll post one next week. In the meantime, brace yourself for Roxane's stunning video:

Roxane should have many years of hitmaking in front of her but if "Sexy" bombs, she can take some solace in Carol Hitchcock's story. 20 years have passed since the release of Carol's one and only flop, "Get Ready", but that spectacular pop moment is still remembered and cherished by lesbians and PWL aficionados around the globe. Carol can lay claim to being the first Australian diva to work with Stock/Aitken/Waterman, recording "Get Ready" while Kylie was still living in Dannii's shadow. As a Hi-NRG cover of The Temptations' Motown classic, with a memorable video and spectacular production, "Get Ready" appeared to be Carol's launching pad to fame and fortune. Unfortunately, the song stalled at #56 in the UK and only just scraped into the Australian top 40. It's a shame because Carol possessed more charisma than most PWL artists. Who else in the history of the Hit Factory can boast working as a nightclub bouncer or appearing on "Prisoner" (Cell Block H)? If anyone knows what happened to Carol, please let me know.

A big thanks to Brian for sending me an MP3 of "Get Ready" - my vinyl copy had really taken a beating!

Anshelle - Rewind Please

One of the fun things about writing a music Blog is the weird and wonderful material that finds its way to you. I'd never heard of the Swiss pop group Anshelle before unexpectedly receiving their latest album for review, so I wasn't sure what to expect. When I think of Swiss pop music, the first thing that comes to mind is DJ Bobo. I reasoned that I was probably in for a trashy pop explosion, possibly with some really awful rapping thrown in for good measure but I couldn't have been more wrong. I quickly discovered that Anshelle's album is a treasure trove of whimsical guitar-pop gems, which owes far more to Sharleen Spiteri of the Scottish band, Texas, than Switzerland's own superstar DJ. Here's my review:

One of the central themes of Anshelle's evocative, new album "Rewind Please" is the drawing of strength and solace from past events. "Rewind Please" almost plays like a musical photo album with each track capturing a memory or defining moment - some of them happy, others less so. There is genuine sense of whimsy and melancholy that gently colours and connects each song to the next. That might sound slightly overbearing but there is enough sunshine peaking through the clouds to prevent "Rewind Please" from ever becoming too depressing. Anshelle walk the fine line between quiet reflection and upbeat pop music with impressive skill.

"Rewind Please" opens with a declaration of intent. To put "Little Mountain" in context it helps to have some knowledge of the band's history. Prior to this album, Anshelle were signed to a major label and from all reports made bright and shiny dance/pop music. It seems the band fell through the cracks during a record company reshuffle and spent the next few years revising their sound and recording "Rewind Please" independently. "Little Mountain" is a musical mantra about persistence and following your passion. Lead singer, Michele Bachmann, sings "I can hear the voices of the raging crowd, while drums and bass are getting loud and if it is the last thing that I'm going to do, I'll be there and smile at you". Michele's "Little Mountain" is the stage and this woman is going nowhere. Anshelle subtly convey their message in one of the album's most instant and catchy pop anthems. "Little Mountain" will have you humming for days.

After the upbeat, jangling guitars of "Little Mountain", the focus of the music shifts from the present to the album's prevalent theme of past events with the gentle title track. The first thing that strikes me about "Rewind Please" is the quality of Michele's voice, which has a soulful quality reminiscent of Texas frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri or Mexico's hugely underrated Elan. It's a voice well equipped to convey the disorientation of realising that your path has irrevocably branched away from old friends and loved ones. The sweet melancholy of "Rewind Please" gives way to the straightforward pop sensibility of "Stereophonic Girlfriends", which injects the proceedings with a pleasant dose of irreverence. The detour from the album's exploration of the past is brief. "Hayfield" is another introspective number, revealing a yearning for the simplicity of childhood. The instrumentation is a delight, making "Hayfield" a worthy first single.

"Soulmate" is a refreshingly optimistic love song, which benefits from some beautiful guitar work and endearing lyrics. It makes an interesting companion piece to the next song, "Unperfect Woman", which is rather more grounded in reality. It's about time someone wrote a love song for the flawed and fucked up! "Unperfect Woman" also increases the tempo after a string of gentle numbers, which is a reminder that Anshelle can rock out when they feel so inclined. They obviously just don't feel like it very often.

"Bye Bye" and "Faith" are two of the album's least inspiring moments. They are perfectly enjoyable album tracks but retrace the previously covered ground of old friendships and break-ups without the charm of "Rewind Please" or "Hayfield". The dip in quality is rectified with the gorgeous "She Might Be", which, if I'm not mistaken, throws a slight hint of ska into the mix. In fact, the song would slot quite nicely into No Doubt's "Tragic Kingdom" album with its staccato bass and percussion. I was sold with the first tambourine jangle! "She Might Be" is a cheeky little number which sees Michele meddling in her friend's lovelife. Any song which rhymes "wench" with "French" is surely some kind of masterpiece. The album closes with a duo of excellent songs, "I'm Alright" and "Taking Over Me". The former song is one of the album's most musically intricate and lyrically inspiring. "It's Alright" preaches the importance of keeping your chin up, while "Taking Over Me" is a haunting tune about giving in to your emotions. The evocative piano playing and unexpected organ cameo make "Taking Over Me" a fitting end to a memorable album.

"Rewind Please" expertly taps into the overwhelming sense of inertia that arises in your mid to late 20s. The topic has already been addressed by several acts (even Fergie took a short break from praising her humps to touch on the issue in "Big Girls Don't Cry") but Anshelle are the first to explore the dilemma of being stuck in the emotional wasteland between the end of your extended adolescence and dawning adulthood with such clarity and precision.

The band have kindly given their permission for me to share the album's excellent opening track, "Little Mountain".

"Rewind Please" is released in Switzerland on the 24th of August. Hopefully, an international release will follow shortly thereafter. The album can be pre-ordered here. Unfortunately, that website only appears to service Europe. Until the album receives a wider release you can listen to some of the tracks on Anshelle's website as well as their Myspace. A promotional video for "Hayfield" has also been uploaded to YouTube.

EliZe's Japanese Makeover

EliZe is the Dutch Dannii and I mean that as a massive compliment! EliZe was a child star in Holland, who was best remembered for singing about growing breasts - "Het Tietenlied" - literally, "The Tit Song" (!) until she became an international pop sensation and one of my favourite trashy divas upon the release of her brilliant anthem "Automatic". That song is Euro-pop at its absolute finest - driving beats, catchy lyrics and a slutty "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" inspired video. EliZe proved that she was a diva to be reckoned with by following "Automatic" with a string of fabulous hits ("Into Your System", "Shake", "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and my favourite, the amusing J. Lo inspired "No Latino") and an exceptional debut album, "In Control". While desperate UK divas like Rachel Stevens and Lisa Scott-Lee tried and failed to launch careers as second rate Kylie impersonators, EliZe embraced the trashy goddess within and just stole blindly from everyone - with truly fabulous results!

I had high hopes for the international prospects of "In Control". The quality of the music is consistently excellent and EliZe is not exactly hard on the eyes. "Automatic" was released around the world (including Australia) but "In Control" is still difficult to find outside her home country. That is until the album's recent Japanese release. I've always been slightly jealous of Japanese music fans. Album covers are often changed (for the better) and bonus tracks are usually added to the tracklist. As you can see, the Japanese version of "In Control" boasts a far more appealing cover than the original version (below) and it has been enriched by a couple of wonderful remixes.

The first time I heard the Japanese remix of "Automatic" I was appalled. EliZe's Euro-pop classic has been transformed into a trashy trance anthem, which sounds like a cross between Cascada and Alex Gaudino's "Destination Unknown". However, by the second listen, I was too busy shaking my arse (with lots of class) to care about the song's lowbrow makeover. In fact, I kind of love it. Apparently, trance is still very much the leading dance genre in Japan and the remix is a shrewd move to appeal to the Japanese market. I wish lovely EliZe every success.

You can purchase the Japanese version of "In Control" from HMV Japan or order it from Chaos but expect to pay around $40. If you're a casual fan, the standard version of "In Control" is now available to download from iTunes and wont leave you bankrupt. "In Control" is highly recommended. Check out EliZe's website for more details.

A big THANK YOU to Nori for all his help with this post!

The Hampdens - Generation Y

After a string of well received EPs, The Hampdens have finally released the first single from their upcoming debut album. "Generation Y" is another perfectly crafted pop song from the Perth trio. As far as I'm concerned, any track that begins with the line "sick and tired of apathy and (Kurt) Cobain tributes" is an automatic winner! Don't be put off by the band's quirky image. The Hampdens are often described as "literary" and "intellectual" but they are a pop act to the very core. "Generation Y" is a great example of a tune that manages to be witty and catchy at the same time. Impressively, the band make the combination seem effortless. Take the line - "Meet me on Myspace tonight, I'll be there waiting". It's a sharp commentary on our generation but it sounds positively romantic within the context of the song.

The Hampdens have very kindly provided a free download of Generation Y (Teenager Remix) on their website. The remix transforms the song into a slightly jarring electro number, which reminds me of early Depeche Mode. The original version in all it's ambient glory can be heard on The Hampden's Myspace. The band's album is scheduled for release in October. Until then, you can purchase "Generation Y" and their other EPs from Chaos or iTunes.

Melinda's Single Cover & Other Tid Bits

With any luck you are looking at the freshly designed single cover of Australia's next breakout pop diva. Melinda Jackson's record company was kind enough to send me a preview and I think it looks fantastic! The cover suits the song's fun, 80s sound and Melinda looks gorgeous. Make sure to check out the Moustache Remix of "Magic" posted below and the radically different radio version on Melinda's Myspace. There's still no word on the official release date but I will keep you posted.

Now for some housekeeping. I've finally updated my list of links - if I forgot anyone, please let me know! It's been a busy couple of weeks in Blogland. I need to give Robpop a big shout out for his spectacular Robyn interview. I have my fingers (and other bits) crossed that "With Every Heartbeat" tops the UK chart this week. Rob's endless promotion and enthusiasm have played an integral role in the song's UK success. Take a bow, sweetheart!

In other news, ex-Young Diva and Pop Trash favourite, Ricki-Lee, has debuted at #2 on the Australian Singles Chart this evening with her brilliant anthem, "Can't Touch It". What an amazing achievement for Ricki-Lee and her record company! Check out the fabulous video and make sure to buy the single. Ricki-Lee's album, "Brand New Day", is released tomorrow. The buzz surrounding the album suggests that it will be truly spectacular. Purchase your copy here.

Furthermore, can someone please explain how Beyonce has managed to release so many good singles from such a shit album? The original version of "B Day" is one of the crappiest things I've heard in years but each single has been transformed into a winner by the Freemasons. I'm positively salivating over the remixed version of "Green Light" and it truly pains me to say nice things about Beyonce! The video itself is something of a trash masterpiece. The Robert Palmer references appeal to 80s child in me and Beyonce's stunning array of stripper outfits would make a Vegas whore blush! Watch the clip here.

I know that I haven't updated Dannii's Dirty Box lately but the highly disputed queen of pop is never far from my heart and mind. According to an English newspaper, Dannii is currently without a recording contract in the UK. The great one has been dumped by every record label in the UK over the years and always manages to fall on her well-heeled feet. I'm sure Holidannii will once again take the music world by storm after her stint on the X Factor is done! My friend Tommie posted a clip on Togerland yesterday and it reinforces everything I love about Dannii. Watch in awe as Australia's brightest star sings her fabulous hits to a crowd of beer swilling, disinterested tourists in Ibiza. Dannii Minogue = LOVE!

My 200th Post - Joanne Vol. 3

Welcome to my 200th post. I really can't believe I've churned out that much crap! I started Pop Trash Addicts as a way of honouring my favourite aging divas, trashy has-beens and fabulous nobodies - and to a certain extent, I feel like I've succeeded in doing that. Over time I've changed my focus to the weird and wonderful Australian pop scene, which continues to churn out amazing new acts despite almost having become an underground movement. One of my favourite subjects has been the legendary Joanne, so I thought I would devote my 200th post to continuing my exploration of Joanne's amazing pop legacy.

I've already covered Joanne's astonishingly successful debut, "Jackie", and her less successful follow up singles. After the disappointing chart placings of "Pack Your Bags" and "Are You Ready?", Joanne took a two year break to work on her album and refine her sound. During that hiatus, Joanne released one further single - a duet with a local boyband, Ilanda, for "The Wog Boy" movie soundtrack. I really should write a post about Ilanda one of these days. They scored several hits as Past To Present before changing their name and hooking up with Joanne for "Breakin' There's No Stoppin' Us". Collaborating with an urban boyband might seem like an unholy alliance but Joanne had already worked with the boys in the past with fabulous results (they wrote her "Pack Your Bags" single). "Breakin' There's No Stoppin' Us" might have one of the worst titles in Australian pop history but the song is a lot of fun. Joanne's powerful voice combines well with Ilanda's sweet harmonies and the trashy backing track is a treat! The song reached #38 and became Joanne's second biggest hit until her official relaunch a year later.

The song is not available on iTunes but "The Wog Boy" soundtrack turns up regularly on Australian Ebay. Joanne fans will want to hunt down the CD single for the fabulous B-side "Move".